Earlier this spring, we ranked elite four-star linebacker Riley Pettijohn, the No. 1 linebacker within the 2025 class. At the moment, 5 colleges participated within the competitors, however over time, one college was faraway from the listing.
Pettijohn now has 4 packages he is centered on: Texas, Texas A&M, Ohio State and USC. Every of the 4 is scheduled for official visits this summer time.
Rivals breaks down the highest 50 prospects from McKinney, Texas.
1. Texas
The #1 rating right here is fairly easy. The Longhorns are as soon as once more one of many prime packages within the nation, returning to compete on a nationwide scale. Steve Sarkisian not solely has offense, but additionally exhibits he can develop defenders with spectacular pace. Texas’ linebacker room is one which has seen some recruiting modifications, but it surely nonetheless permits Pettyjohn to play early in his profession. Only a yr in the past, Texas took the No. 1 defensive lineman in Anthony Hill of Denton, Texas, who received FWAA Freshman All-American and co-Huge 12 Defensive Freshman of the 12 months. Texas has the proper street map to promote Pettijohn. The four-star prospect additionally carried the Longhorns’ backpack for nearly your entire offseason.
2. Ohio State
The standing and historical past of Ohio State’s quarterbacks places them in line for almost any elite prospect they need. I Ryan Day does not miss typically, particularly with how they graduated the category of 2024 and began the category of 2025. He’ll be figuring out beneath a brand new linebackers coach Jacob Lauranit in addition to the defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, who has deep expertise teaching linebackers. Being on the prime of the Huge Ten shall be engaging, as will taking part in with a loaded Buckeyes quarterback roster in 2025 that features two five-star quarterbacks.
3. U.S.C
USC did quite a bit to impress Pettijohn. All-new defensive lineup and tradition helped recruit elite quarterbacks in Class of 2025. New linebackers coach Matt Entz, World Well being Group left the pinnacle teaching job at North Dakota State to work beneath him lincoln riley, is a gorgeous linebacker matchup to develop beneath. One other attention-grabbing level is that one among Pettijohn McKinney’s former teammates and good good friend, working again Brian Jackson, is now a freshman at USC. They’ve visited collectively earlier than and Jackson calls for that Pettyjohn be a part of him.
4. Texas A&M
The Aggies’ in-state program has at all times been updated, however recruiting Mike Elka helped them to be extra current in his recruitment. With an official go to looming, Pettyjohn might even really feel comfy with the Aggies, but it surely seems he is headed to Texas A&M at the moment.