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Tommy Togiai muscles 40 reps at bench press behind LiFEsports partnership

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Master Teague III called him probably the strongest person he’s ever seen back in early-November. Ryan Day said that his weight-room numbers were off the charts.

Then, Tommy Togiai proved it on Tuesday with an eye-popping 40 repetitions on the bench press at Ohio State’s Pro Day - but he still wasn’t satisfied.

“Kind of a little disappointed. I felt like maybe I could do more,” Togiai said. “Forty is a good number, and I’m okay with that.”

The now-NFL prospect had some extra motivation when he took to the bench press. Togiai partnered with Ohio State’s LiFEsports initiative, whose mission is “to enhance the quality of youth development, sport, and recreational programs through service and outreach, teaching and learning, and research, thereby increasing positive developmental outcomes for youth,” according to Ohio State Athletics.

According to the article, Togiai looked to break the NFL Combine bench press record previously set by former Oregon State defensive tackle Stephen Paea, who recorded 49 repetitions of 225 pounds in 2011.

“I was just kind of going off the feeling. I mean, you can’t really tell when you’re just in the moment, like, how many you’re going to get,” Togiai said. “It’s kind of just feeling on your body, the stamina kind of hit, fatigue hit in.”

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In addition to bench pressing, Togiai said he partook in shuttle runs and three-cone drills. The 6-foot-2 defensive lineman said he also leapt 30 inches on the vertical jump and felt good doing his positional tests.

Togiai ran the 40-yard dash, although he said he didn’t have a for-sure recorded time. However, the tackle said he had a reason behind wanting to impress during his sprint.

“Everyone thinks of me just strong and big and that’s it. But I’ve got the speed along with it and I can move,” Togiai said. “Just kind of wanted to put that on a showcase today.”

RELATED: Ryan Day hopes for fans in Ohio Stadium this fall, talks 5th-year impacts

Togiai recorded the Buckeyes' second-most tackles for loss and sacks in 2020 with 4.5 and three, respectively. He’ll leave Ohio State with 49 tackles through 33-career games after declaring for the NFL draft on January 18.

With less than a month until NFL franchises make their picks, Togiai left a strong impression while making an even stronger help for a charitable cause.

“I think it went great. Shout out to Life Sports for reaching out, my agency as well reaching out with them and making this happen," Togiai said. "I wanted to be able to give back to the kids that cheered me on while I’ve been here and give back to them so they can have a chance to play sports that they love that I had a chance to when I was a kid.

"Really happy with what went on and the people who donated."

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