The Browns on Saturday selected Ohio State DT Tommy Togiai in the fourth round with the No. 132 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Togiai appeared in 33 games over three seasons with the Buckeyes. The Pocatello, Idaho, native was at his best in 2020, earning Second Team All-Big Ten honors after recording 23 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. All three of his sacks came in the Buckeyes' 38-25 win over Penn State.
"Tommy is what we consider a very good run player who has kind of come into his own here in the last year," Browns Director of Player Personnel Dan Saganey said. "Excited to add an Ohio State guy who we think will be a great fit as a person for the organization and a great fit in the room and really helps upgrade our defensive line room going into the season."
Togiai was a reserve player for his first two seasons at Ohio State before taking on a full-time role in 2020. He bypassed his final year of eligibility to enter the 2021 NFL Draft.
"I was betting on myself and it worked out for the best," Togiai said. "Whatever decision I decided on was the best decision for me and I am sticking with that. I know this was the best decision for me and I am excited to get to work."
Togiai is another new face inside the Browns defensive tackles room, which will look significantly different than it did in 2020. Gone are Sheldon Richardson and Larry Ogunjobi and in are veterans Malik Jackson and Andrew Billings and, now, Togiai.
"We feel pretty good about the room going in," Saganey said. "We think he is a very good run player. Obviously, the division is a physical division in general. We think there is upside there as a pass rusher for him as well. He is a good, powerful, explosive and quick guy to add to the room. So again, you can never have enough defensive linemen and we are excited to get him in the mix and see what he can do competing with the rest of the crew here."
Togiai was the first player from Idaho to sign to play with the Buckeyes. He was a three-time first-team all-state selection for one of the state's best high school programs and earned Gatorade Idaho Player of the Year.
"I think the thing I do best is being physical at the point of attack, using my hands and being able to lock out o-lineman, especially in the run game," Togiai said. "And then stuff I have been improving on and been working on this offseason in my pass rush is using my hands better, using some more moves, incorporating more moves that I can use."
Togiai is the fifth player to join the Browns through the 2021 NFL Draft. Northwestern CB Greg Newsome (1st Round, No. 26) was selected Thursday, Notre Dame LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (2nd round, No. 52) and Auburn WR Anthony Schwartz (3rd Round, No. 91) were added to the roster Friday and Cincinnati T James Hudson (4th round, No. 110) was selected earlier Saturday in the fourth round.
"I am excited to be part of their organization and so blessed to have them pick me in this draft," Togiai said. "I am just really excited to get to work and get up there."
The Browns hold three more picks on Day 3, including two picks in the fifth (153, 169) and a sixth-rounder (211).
