This offseason, Ohio State promoted James Laurinaitis to a full-time assistant coach, enabling the three-time All-American to coach the position he excelled at during his time as a player for the Buckeyes. This promotion also allowed Laurinaitis to take on a larger role in practices, games, and recruiting.
The impact of this move is already evident, as Ohio State has secured commitments from high four-star Florida linebacker Tarvos Alford and Eli Lee, the No. 2 in-state linebacker for the 2025 class. With these two standout players, the Buckeyes were able to aim high for a third recruit, and Laurinaitis succeeded in this endeavor.
On Saturday, five-star linebacker Riley Pettijohn announced his commitment to Ohio State. The Texas native is ranked as the No. 4 linebacker and No. 31 overall prospect nationally according to the 247Sports Composite.
Pettijohn chose Ohio State over Texas, Texas A&M, and USC from over 30 offers. The 6-foot-1.5, 215-pound linebacker took an official visit to Ohio State on May 31, where Laurinaitis, Jim Knowles, and the defensive staff outlined their plan for his development. Initially, it seemed like the in-state programs would secure Pettijohn, but a late push by the Buckeyes convinced the McKinney star to choose Columbus.
“We really enjoyed our trip back to Columbus,” Pettijohn’s father told On3 after the visit. “The biggest takeaway we had was the consistency and transparency in everything about the program. Ohio State is an elite institution that is poised to remain for a long time and we like that.”
Pettijohn is an outstanding athlete, participating in track and field events such as the 100-meter dash and the long jump. After finishing his sophomore football season with 42 tackles, five tackles for loss, and three sacks, Pettijohn had a breakout junior year with 125 tackles, eight TFLs, three sacks, an interception, four QB hurries, and a blocked field goal. His athletic family background includes his father, Duke Pettijohn, who was a two-time All-Big East selection at Syracuse from 1997-2000 as a defensive end.
247Sports scouting analyst Gabe Brooks praised Pettijohn, describing him as an “athletic volume tackler” with the potential to fit multiple off-ball linebacker roles in various schemes, noting his well-developed build, athletic base, and chase-down athleticism.
Pettijohn is the third linebacker in this class for Ohio State, with Laurinaitis securing two of the top five players in the country at the position between him and Alford. Pettijohn is the highest-rated linebacker to commit to the Buckeyes since C.J. Hicks in 2022, and is the fourth composite five-star in this cycle for Ohio State, joining Devin Sanchez, Na’eem Offord, and Tavien St. Clair.
Ryan Day’s 2025 class now includes 11 top-100 players, maintaining its status as the No. 1 class in the country. With 310.47 points, Ohio State has already surpassed each of its previous three recruiting classes (excluding transfers) and is likely to sign closer to 28-30 players due to the new era of the transfer portal requiring larger classes.
Quick Hits:
Sanders, the No. 1 OT and No. 2 overall player in the country per the 247Sports Composite, was once considered a Clemson lean, but Ohio State and Tennessee have since become the frontrunners. The North Carolina native has kept his recruitment very private, making it unclear who the favorite is to land the nation’s best offensive lineman.
For Ohio State to finish this cycle with the No. 1 overall class, securing Sanders is crucial. It would also be a significant addition for position coach Justin Frye, whose recruiting and development skills have recently come into question.