LB Riley Pettijohn (Official Thread)

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Better Know a Buckeye: Riley Pettijohn Already Looks Like a Big Ten Linebacker and Can Be a Day One Contributor for the Buckeyes

Riley Pettijohn already looks like a Big Ten linebacker and has the intangibles and skill set to get on the field early at Ohio State.

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Better Know a Buckeye: Riley Pettijohn Already Looks Like a Big Ten Linebacker and Can Be a Day One Contributor for the Buckeyes​

Immediate Impact​

While Pettijohn could make a push for playing time as a freshman, Sonny Styles will be one of Ohio State’s two starting linebackers, while Arvell Reese will likely replace Cody Simon as the other starter in 2025.

With C.J. Hicks moving to the edge, Duquesne transfer Ty Howard is the only other upperclassman linebacker on the roster. While Payton Pierce will likely take up a spot on the two-deep, Pettijohn will compete with Garrett Stover and Alford to be the other backup linebacker.

“I think it’ll naturally just shake out,” Laurinaitis said of where the freshmen linebacker will fit into his unit this season. “Each and every year, your scheme changes, so I think we have to let things happen and we’ll see where it all falls. You put them at both positions and you see who does what best. A lot of times when you come into college schemes from wherever you were at, there’s going to be changes and you’ll be added to a great room we already have.”

At the very least, Pettijohn will compete for a role on special teams as a freshman.

Long-Term Impact​

With Styles entering his senior season, at least one of Ohio State’s starting linebacker spots will be open entering 2026. That creates a potential opportunity for Pettijohn to become a starter as a sophomore after getting some playing time, learning the speed of the college game and developing his body in his first year in Columbus.

While he will have to compete with Pierce, Alford, Stover and others, he might be too good to keep off the field as a sophomore if he lives up to his recruiting billing.