It doesn't take long to see the kind of strength Tommy Togiai brings to the defensive line when reviewing the tape from his 2020 season at Ohio State.
At 6-foot-1 and 300 pounds, Togiai's figure might not appear as imposing as other defensive tackles from the perspective of an offensive lineman, but don't be fooled — he's always been one of the strongest players on the field. With three sacks, 4.5 tackles for a loss and two passes defensed last year, Togiai was ripe for a team in need of a player capable of growing into a possible every-down starter.
That's why the Browns picked Togiai in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He's still just 21 years old, but he's proved his strength was already imposing enough to possibly make an impact early in the NFL, according to Dane Brugler, a draft analyst for The Athletic.
"The power he shows is really, really unique," Brugler said in a recent "Browns Breakdowns" video with Nathan Zegura. "I think one of the things we like about him is the effort. When he's on the field. He's going full speed the whole time."
Check out photos of the defensive linemen the Browns will be bringing into training camp
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during the third day of minicamp on June 17, 2021.
Defensive end Porter Gustin (97) during a NFL football game between the Washington Football Team and Cleveland Browns on September 27, 2020 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 34-20.
Defensive end Porter Gustin (94) during the sixth day of phase three on June 3, 2021.
Defensive tackle Tommy Togiai (93) during the third day of minicamp on June 17, 2021.
Defensive end Takkarist McKinley (55) during the third day of minicamp on June 17, 2021.
Defensive end Takkarist McKinley (55) during the third day of minicamp on June 17, 2021.
Defensive tackle Sheldon Day (92) during the third day of minicamp on June 17, 2021.
Defensive end Curtis Weaver (59) during the third day of minicamp on June 17, 2021.
Defensive tackle Marvin Wilson (65) during the third day of minicamp on June 17, 2021.
Cleveland Browns defensive linemen Damion Square (61) during an NFL football practice at the team's training facility, Thursday, June 17, 2021 in Berea, Ohio. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (90) during the third day of minicamp on June 17, 2021.
Defensive end Cameron Malveaux (69) during the third day of minicamp on June 17, 2021.
Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (90) and Defensive tackle Malik Jackson (97) during the second day of minicamp on June 16, 2021.
Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (90) during the third day of minicamp on June 17, 2021.
Defensive tackle Andrew Billings (99) during the first day of minicamp on June 15, 2021.
Defensive end Curtis Weaver (59) during the third day of minicamp on June 17, 2021.
Defensive tackle Sheldon Day (92) during the sixth day of phase three on June 3, 2021.
Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (90) during the first day of minicamp on June 15, 2021.
Defensive tackle Sheldon Day (92) during the sixth day of phase three on June 3, 2021.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during a NFL football game between the Houston Texans and Cleveland Browns on November 15, 2020 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 10-7.
Defensive end Takkarist McKinley (55) during the first day of minicamp on June 15, 2021.
Defensive end Romeo McKnight (57) during the sixth day of phase three on June 3, 2021.
Defensive tackle Jordan Elliott (96) during the ninth day of phase three on June 8, 2021.
Defensive tackle Malik Jackson (97) during the sixth day of phase three on June 3, 2021.
Defensive tackle Malik Jackson (97) during the fifth day of phase three on June 2, 2021.
Defensive tackle Marvin Wilson (65) during the sixth day of phase three on June 3, 2021.
Defensive tackle Andrew Billings (99) during the fifth day of phase three on June 2, 2021.
Defensive tackle Malik Jackson (97) and Defensive tackle Andrew Billings (99) during the fifth day of phase three on June 2, 2021.
Defensive end Curtis Weaver (59) during the sixth day of phase three on June 3, 2021.
Defensive tackle Andrew Billings (99) during the fifth day of phase three on June 2, 2021.
Defensive tackle Malik McDowell (58) during the fourth day of phase two on May 20, 2021.
Defensive tackle Jordan Elliott (90) during a NFL football game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns on November 22, 2020 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 22-17.
Defensive tackle Tommy Togiai (93) during the third day of phase two on May 19, 2021.
Defensive tackle Marvin Wilson (65) during the first day of phase two on May 17, 2021.
Defensive end Romeo McKnight (57) during the third day of rookie minicamp on May 16, 2021.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) after a NFL wild-card playoff football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on January 10, 2021 at Heinz Field. The Browns won 48-37.
Defensive end Joe Jackson (91) during practice on September 21, 2020
Defensive tackle Malik McDowell (58) during the first day of rookie minicamp on May 14, 2021.
Defensive tackle Malik McDowell (58) during the first day of rookie minicamp on May 14, 2021.
Defensive tackle Jordan Elliott (90) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Jacksonville Jaguars on November 29, 2020 at TIAA Bank Field. The Browns won 27-25.
Defensive end Porter Gustin (97) during a NFL wild-card playoff football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on January 10, 2021 at Heinz Field. The Browns won 48-37.
Defensive end Cameron Malveaux (69) during a NFL football game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns on November 22, 2020 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 22-17.
Defensive end Cameron Malveaux (69) during a NFL football game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns on November 22, 2020 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 22-17.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during a NFL football game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns on January 3, 2021 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 24 -22.
Defensive end Joe Jackson (91) before a NFL football game between the Washington Football Team and Cleveland Browns on September 27, 2020 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 34-20.
Defensive tackle Jordan Elliott (90) during practice on August 13, 2020
Defensive end Joe Jackson (91) during practice on October 14, 2020
That observation is no surprise upon hearing what Togiai is capable of doing in the weight room. He completed 40 reps of 225 pounds, and 38 of them were lifted without any rest. His mark was tied for the best of all players who participated in Pro Days last spring.
The strength is on full display when Togiai attempts to motor through linemen. His upper-body power is tremendous, but he also knows how to properly use his feet to win at the point of contact and plow through any gaps to the quarterback.
One of the best examples from the tape was his final game with the Buckeyes in the College Football Playoff against Clemson, when Togiai recorded four tackles, three quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and a tipped pass.
"This was the game where he flexed his muscles," Brugler said. "He was the MVP of Ohio State's defense here against the run and the pass. It didn't matter — he was unstoppable."
So where will Togiai fit in his rookie season? There's a lot of work left to be completed at training camp until the answer arrives, but he's certainly a candidate to at least carve a considerable role in the rotation if he impresses. He'll likely receive lots of reps in preseason games as well, and with eight players vying for starting spots in a wide open defensive tackle competition, Togiai can't be ruled out as a rookie who could carve a big role with the Browns sooner rather than later.
But regardless of where he's first listed on the depth chart, it's a safe bet to believe Togiai will receive chances at some point throughout the regular season to show how his strength matches up against the top lineman in the league.
"I think he's going to be inside as more of that one-technique," Brugler said. "He's going to be stout first with the run. That'll be his bread and butter. When he's given opportunities to be that one-gap penetrator and use that initial quickness, it's not just power and it's not just quickness. He's a smart player. He understands blocking schemes. He understands what an offense is going to do.
"He was a three-year player and still has yet to play his best football. He's still a young player, and in the fourth round, you love to see the value there. He's going to get better and better with more coaching."
