POCATELLO — Tommy Togiai made his decision before Urban Meyer and Larry Johnson made their trip to Idaho.
When Meyer, Ohio State’s head football coach, and Johnson, the school’s assistant head coach and defensive line coach, came to Pocatello for an in-home visit Dec. 12 with Togiai, it was time for the four-star defensive tackle to declare his commitment to the Buckeyes’ coaches.
Togiai made his pledge official Wednesday in the Early Signing Period by inking his National Letter of Intent in front of his friends and family at Highland High School’s media room.
“First, is the coaches,” Togiai said on why he chose the Buckeyes. “Second, is the players, hanging around them was amazing. I can tell they work hard. I wanted to be apart of that brotherhood.”
“It was a feeling in my heart that told me I needed to make this decision, and I think Ohio State is the best place for me,” Togiai added.
Highland defensive tackle Tommy Togiai signed his National Letter of Intent to play at Ohio State. #idpreps pic.twitter.com/KpN6Z7z7RV
— Michael Guise (@Michael_Guise) December 20, 2017
Togiai is the No. 2-ranked prospect in Idaho, the ninth-best defensive tackle and 126th-best player in the class of 2018, according to 247sports.com.
He joins a Buckeyes recruiting class that is ranked No. 2 by 247sports and includes five-star defensive tackle Taron Vincent and four-star defensive tackle Antwuan Jackson Jr.
Togiai is the third Highland player to sign an NLI with a Power 5 school since 2015, joining Kyler Manu (Washington) and Wayne Kirby (Oregon, now at BYU).
Highland defensive tackle Tommy Togiai on his relationship with Ohio State defensive line coach Larry Johnson. #idpreps pic.twitter.com/LUsc8arQm8
— Michael Guise (@Michael_Guise) December 20, 2017
Togiai graduated in November and is enrolling at OSU early. He starts class Jan. 8, 2018 and will participate in the team’s spring activities. He will also play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl on Jan. 6, 2018 in the Alamodome in San Antonio.
“I want to play as early as I can,” Togiai said. “Being in spring ball will help with that. It will also be awesome to get some schooling out of the way.”
Togiai played his final prep season with a spotlight on him and he delievered. The defensive tackle notched 93 tackles and 11 sacks on his way to being named the 5A District 5-6 Player of the Year, 5A All-Idaho Player of the Year and Idaho Gatorade Player of the Year.
“He has a work ethic unlike any other,” Highland defensive coordinator Nick Sorrell said. “He’s worked for everything that he’s gotten to at this point. That is going to continue, and he is going to be really successful because of that.”
Togiai chose the Buckeyes over offers from Washington, USC and Utah, among others. He visited Ohio State for the program’s Friday Night Lights recruiting event July 28 and also visited Washington on Oct. 7.
“It was a little overwhelming at times to have all the coaches come,” Togiai said. “My parents went through it, they talked to the coaches. I think, in the end, talking to them, Ohio State was the place for me.”
Togiai signed his NLI with memories of his prep career all around him. In front of the table that he sat at with his mother, Jodi, father, Tala, and prep head coach, Gino Mariani, was two footballs, two Highland helmets, a pair of Highland Ram statues and a picture collage and the 2017 5A state championship trophy.
Tommy Togiai (right center) prepares to sign his National Letter of Intent with his father (left center), mother (right end) and Highland head coach Gino Mariani (left end) watch Wednesday at Highland High School.
Behind him, an Ohio State flag was pinned to a board, serving as a backdrop for the day’s events. On the left side of the banner, scribbled in black ink were Meyer’s and Johnson’s autographs.
Now, it’s time for Ohio State to move forward from the background. Togiai’s star-studded prep career is finished, and he leaves behind a memorable legacy.
“We have the same type of athlete as Taysom Hill, just at a different position,” Mariani said. “You hope you have more like this. I don’t think we’ll ever have another D-tackle like him. I don’t know if we’ll ever get another Tommy Togiai. He’s been special and an incredible player for us.”
Note: In an earlier version of this story, it stated that Ohio State's recruiting class was ranked No. 1 by 247sports. The Buckeyes' class is now No. 2.
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