JT Tuimoloau, Denzel Burke provide injury updates ahead of National Championship
JT Tuimoloau and Denzel Burke met the media in Atlanta ahead of the College Football Playoff National Championship tilt with Notre Dame.
Tuimoloau, who enters the game with 11.5 sacks and 20 tackles for a loss, impressed for Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl semifinal against Texas with 7 tackles and 2.5 TFLs — including 1.5 sacks. But he missed a portion of the second half with an injury to his left ankle, which was heavily taped up.
Per ESPN’s Pete Thamel, though, the senior and projected first-round pick called it a “little basketball ankle roll” and should be good to go on Monday.
Burke, who suffered a shoulder injury and also sat out much of the second half against the Longhorns, “feels great” for the championship game and has been able to practice daily, he said.
The Buckeyes defensive back was limited to a pair of tackles in the semifinal. Heading into the final game of his college career, he has 45 tackles and 2 interceptions.
Having Tuimoloau and Burke available is good news for Ohio State, who is looking to sew up a first national championship since 2014. It eased past Tennessee and B1G foe Oregon before pulling off a 28-14 semifinal win against Texas in a de facto home game for the Longhorns at AT&T Stadium.
Couple Ohio State updates.
*DE JT Tuimoloau called his ankle injury against Texas "a little basketball ankle roll" and said "I feel really good."
*Denzel Burke missed most of second half of Texas with a should injury. He said he's practiced "every day" and feels "great." pic.twitter.com/ZtCaE40gVM— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 18, 2025
Kickoff of the College Football Playoff National Championship is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on Monday. Ohio State is an 8-point favorite in the game, via Caesars.