Riley Pettijohn says he's gone from 215 pounds to 227 pounds this spring and he expects to get on the field and make plays in his first year at Ohio State.
www.elevenwarriors.com
Riley Pettijohn Says He Can “Do A Little Bit Of Everything,” Thinks He Can Get on the Field and Make Plays for Ohio State in Year One
A typical day for freshman linebacker Riley Pettijohn this spring isn’t for the faint of heart.
The No. 2-rated linebacker in the 2025 recruiting class, Pettijohn often starts his day by waking up early and strolling to Ohio State’s practice facility, the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.
He starts by watching practice film from the previous day, making notes of where he thrived and what he needs to refine going forward. Then he’ll either have practice, or if it’s an off day, he’ll lift weights. When he completes those, he’ll have meetings with Ohio State’s coaching staff, primarily linebackers coach James Laurinaitis, who will offer his input on Pettijohn’s play so far.
“Riley Pettijohn, he has a great feel for the game,” Laurinaitis said. “The burst is there … Any time you have freshmen on the field, you get these lumps of clay you’re excited to form a little bit. The most important thing with young players is that you’re learning a lot.”
And of course, he’s also a student-athlete, so following his football obligations, he heads to the classroom. He’ll end his night with some film study, part two.
“I want to know what I did wrong, what I can improve on and help me learn new installs,” Pettijohn said of what he watches during film.
That may seem like a lot for someone who’s just finished his third month on campus, but Pettijohn came to Ohio State with lofty expectations as a top-45 recruit in the nation, and he has lofty goals for himself in his freshman year.
“Just getting on the field and making plays,” Pettijohn said of what he hopes to accomplish in year one. “I feel like that’s a good expectation for me.”
.
.
.
continued