The wealthy get richer as Ohio State lands a dedication from the No. 1 ranked linebacker within the 2025 class.
Riley Pettyjohn of McKinney (Texas) has introduced his pledge to the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Pettijohn, the No. 33 prospect within the Rivals250 rankings, joins a Buckeyes class that’s already ranked No. 1 within the 2025 recruiting class.
The 6-foot-3, 200-plus-pound linebacker selected the Buckeyes over Texas, USC, Texas A&M and lots of others.
This set was a type of that appeared like a no brainer only a few months in the past, nevertheless it turned out that there have been some twists and turns alongside the way in which.
Texas was as soon as thought-about the heavy favourite to land Pettijohn as a result of the Dallas-Fort Price space prospect visited Austin and wore a Texas backpack for a lot of the offseason. USC even had buzz all through the method because the Trojans revamped their defensive workers, with former teammate and good friend McKinney Brian Jackson on Pettijohn’s roster.
However as resolution day drew nearer, the knowledge surrounding Ohio State’s selection grew.
An official go to to Columbus went a good distance towards serving to the Buckeyes fulfill their dedication.
“They have been stressing how they needed me to be part of Ohio State, how I may win nationwide championships if I went there,” Pettyjohn stated just lately. “Total it was a great go to. I appreciated the assembly with the coach (james) Laurinaitis, speaking to him and the coach about soccer (Jim) Knowlesto take a seat down and determine their protection, their schemes and issues like that.”
Pettijohn joins an Ohio State class that already has two linebackers in four-stars Tarvas Alford and Eli Lee.
What Ohio State is getting in Pettijohn
Pettijohn, the No. 1 linebacker prospect within the nation, is an athletic and hard playmaker in the midst of the protection. Excellent dimension at 6-foot-3 and within the 215-pound vary and has legit, confirmed 10.7 velocity within the 100-meter sprint. The velocity reveals on tape as Pettijohn is a sideline defender and may cowl the sphere comfortably. Made 125 tackles in his junior season.
An distinctive open discipline shooter who’s fast to diagnose performs as they develop. Fits a variety of off-ball defender positions, can play each downfield and loosely within the second place. There may be actual worth in speeding the passer on the sting in addition to within the center. Makes use of his velocity but in addition a hard-hitting type of play to interrupt by way of blocks and end.
His body and elegance of play match completely with the fashionable linebacker type that each school soccer and the NFL are on the lookout for. Inside linebackers have change into a rarity within the first spherical of the NFL draft, but when anybody desires one, that is the type Pettyjohn brings to Ohio State.