Boom. Fireworks are over but they’re still going off in Columbus.
Ohio State just went into Texas and landed one of their biggest gets of the entire 2025 recruiting class. While the Buckeyes have long recruited well in Texas, this one comes as a bit of a surprise.
Linebacker Riley Pettijohn picked the Buckeyes over Texas, Texas A&M, and USC. After recently missing out on Justin Hill who went to Alabama, the Buckeyes land an even more important player who is a true linebacker.
Ranked as the No. 4 linebacker and No. 31 overall player in the class of 2025, according to the 247 Sports composite rankings. Pettijohn had over 30 programs around the country that wanted him. For Ohio State, putting Pettijohn next to Tarvos Alford in this class is a huge win to get two of the better linebackers in the class. The Buckeyes have four-star linebacker Eli Lee committed as well at the position.
Texas was long seen as the favorite to land the 6-foot-2, 215-pound linebacker out of McKinney, Texas.
Ohio State was able to fend off the Longhorns and Aggies, two home-state schools with large NIL backings. That is as big of a win as you will see on the defensive side of the football in recruiting.
Pettijohn officially visited Columbus back on May 31. Throughout June, Pettijohn took visits to USC, Texas, and Texas A&M. This verbal commitment is the biggest of James Laurinaitis’ young coaching career and won’t be his last.
Ohio State had the No. 1 recruiting class before the commitment and will continue to hold that spot after Pettijohn announced his next step.
Ohio State’s 2025 verbal commits
- QB Tavien St. Clair
- CB Devin Sanchez
- CB Na’eem Offord
- OT Carter Lowe
- LB Tarvos Alford
- RB Bo Jackson
- DE Zahir Mathis
- DL London Merritt
- TE Nate Roberts
- WR De’Zie Jones
- S DeShawn Stewart
- LB Eli Lee
- S Cody Haddad
- S Faheem Delane
- WR Quincy Porter
- RB Isaiah West
- WR Bodpegn Miller
- OL Jake Cook
- TE Brody Lennon
- DL Trajen Odom
- DL Maxwell Roy
- LB Riley Pettijohn
Related: Former five-star recruit is among the breakout players to watch for Ohio State this fall
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