It is clear entering the 2025 season that Ohio State’s top-two linebackers will be rising senior Sonny Styles and junior Arvell Reese.
But who is the No. 3 linebacker for the Buckeyes?
As it turns out, the answer to that question is fairly simple. It will very likely be redshirt freshman Payton Pierce.
The 6-foot-2, 230-pound Pierce – a native of Lucas, Texas – was ranked as the No. 15 linebacker and the No. 204 overall recruit in the country in the 2024 class, per the 247Sports Composite.
Ohio State linebackers coach James Laurinaitis was asked recently if his top-three LBs are Styles, Reese and Pierce.
“Yeah, I think going into it, I think it’s Sonny, Arvell and Payton’s right up there in that mix,” Laurinaitis said. “You’re accurate there. And then it’s like, who else is going to emerge for really the fourth guy? I think that’s a healthy way to put it. Yeah.
“I just think our backers are so competitive, that it’s like, I know Payton Pierce is champing at the bit and I know that he’s going to push Velly and Sonny. And I know that you could look at Riley (Pettijohn) and TJ (Alford) and Eli (Lee) and Stove (Garrett Stover) as well. Those guys are going at it. At these workouts, those guys are going at it and it’s constant competition. You know what I mean? They’re trying to fight each other and everything.
“So, because the reality of it is they’re fighting for reps, right? So, this game is hard. It’s winner/loser every single day. A lot of the guys are going to make their break and it starts with the mental preparation, to be honest with you. Because that’s where trust starts, right? If you don’t know what you’re doing, I can’t put you out there.
“So, who preps mentally as we get rolling and then it’s about the physical part of it. But yeah, I’d say it’s Sonny, Arvell and Payton probably have the top three. But like I always say, it’s always fluid.”
Little Animal on Hicks
One thing that is not fluid is whether C.J. Hicks will move to defensive end. The rising senior has made the move and Laurinaitis was asked what he expects to see from Hicks this spring.
“Yeah, I think C.J.’s going to be moved around a lot,” Laurinaitis said. “You know, it’s funny, when we hired Matt Patricia, the first person I thought of was CJ, because I think Matt Patricia, some of the stuff that he’s done was similar-ish. I know Al Golden was with him at Detroit with the Lions. So, there’s some stuff that at least we did over there at Notre Dame that we’ll see if we’re able to kind of implement some of it here. I’m sure some, maybe not others, depending on what our guys do best.
“But I always talk about C.J. because it’s a fresh start, a new set of eyes on him. And I think it’s an opportunity to be multiple and use him at what he does best, you know? So that’s the exciting thing, when you really study what Coach Patricia has done in the past, is he likes to say, ‘OK, who are our players? And then let’s build it around those guys.’ And I think C.J.’s had a hell of a winter and I think he’s one of those guys. So, I’m excited to see how we get creative and use him into the spring.”
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