Tuf Borland, one of just two players in the 132-year history of Ohio State football to be a three-time team captain, signed as a rookie free agent with the Minnesota Vikings following the 2021 NFL Draft.
Ohio State Overview
• One of only two three-time captains in school history (J.T. Barrett)
• Graduated with his degree in human development and family science
• Earned his master’s degree this past year in sports coaching
• Three-time academic all-Big Ten Conference honoree
• Named honorable mention all-Big Ten three times
• Played in 49 career games and made 31 starts
• Recorded at least 50 or more tackles for three consecutive years until 2020, when he had 48 in seven games played
• 228 career tackles with 19.0 TFLs and 6.5 quarterback sacks
• Also had an interception, two pass break-ups and two forced fumbles
• Four-time academic all-Big Ten Conference honoree
• Started all 14 games in 2019 for a defensive unit that ranked No. 1 in total defense (259.7 yards/game), No. 4 in scoring defense (13.7 points/game) and No. 9 in rushing defense (103.7 yards/game).
• Finished fourth on the team with 55 total stops (27 solo), three sacks and three tackles for loss.
• Had an interception and 42-yard return in the second half vs. Cincinnati to preserve a shutout in a 42-0 win.
• Has 34 games of starting experience entering the 2020 season.
• After suffering an Achilles tendon injury in the spring of 2018, worked on rehab throughout the summer months and by fall camp he was seeing action to the point he was named a captain of the team.
• His playing time increased as the season progressed and he ended up starting 11 games a finishing third on the team with 67 tackles.
• His 9.0 tackles for loss were third on the team.
• Was fourth among all Buckeyes in 2017 with 58 stops, a total that included 12 against Army and 11 in the win over Michigan State.
• Borland was the team’s defensive player of the game vs. both Army and Michigan State.
• Was named a game “champion” by the Ohio State coaches five times, including the final three games of the season vs. Michigan, the Big Ten championship game vs. Wisconsin and the Goodyear Cotton Bowl vs. USC.
• Enrolled in classes in January 2016
Honors & Awards
2016: OSU Scholar-Athlete
2017: Academic All-Big Ten and OSU Scholar-Athlete
2018: Honorable mention All-Big Ten (coaches and media)
Academic All-Big Ten and OSU Scholar-Athlete
2019: Honorable mention All-Big Ten (coaches and media)
Academic All-Big Ten and OSU Scholar-Athlete
2020: Honorable mention All-Big Ten (coaches and media)
Academic All-Big Ten and OSU Sccholar-Athlete
Notable Note
• Borland’s 12 tackles vs. Army in 2017 were the most by an Ohio State freshman in six years, or since Ryan Shazier had 15 in a 2011 game vs. Penn State.
At Bolingbrook High School
• Came to Ohio State as a 4-star outside linebacker prospect by both 247Sports and Scout.
• Was a two-time all-state selection who starred for Bolingbrook teams that advanced to Illinois state playoffs four consecutive years under the direction of head coach John Ivlow.
• Recorded 165 tackles as a senior and was named all-state by the Chicago Tribune, all-SW Suburban Blue and the Voyager Media defensive player of the year.
• Had 152 tackles as a junior and was an IHSFCA 8A and Chicago Tribune all-state selection.
• Played baseball and basketball for two years.
• Is the son of Jeny and Kyle Borland.