Spring is an interesting time for college football. Programs are going through spring practices, getting early enrollees and incoming transfers acclimated to the process, while beginning install and preparations for the fall. At the same time, former players are off working out, interviewing, and trying to impress their way to a higher draft pick in the coming draft. For many programs, it’s a time to see what is in the building to try to replace great talent heading to the NFL. For Ohio State, the program with the most first-round picks with 95 heading into this year’s event, it’s about as normal as walkthough the Friday before a game.
This year, there are five former Buckeyes expected to go in the first round, with a whopping four expected to land in the top 10. Two of those happen to be the two starting linebackers from last year, Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles.
Replacing Two Top-10 Picks is ‘The Standard’ At Ohio State
Reese and Styles were the lifeblood of the defense last year. Coming from their linebacker spots, the two combined for 181 total tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, seven and a half sacks, an interception, five pass breakups, and a forced fumble. Reese was a consensus All-American and earned Big Ten Linebacker of the Year honors. Styles, meanwhile, missed out on the consensus label selection, but was still honored by The Sporting News.
Ohio State must replace 1,310 snaps of All-American play.
Reloading, Never Rebuilding
Linebackers coach James Laurinaitis has been up to the challenge since coming back to Columbus in 2024. At one point, linebacker was a tangible weakness for the Buckeyes. Over the last two seasons, however, Laurinaitis has whipped his room into shape. He is no stranger to greatness, having won the Nagurski Trophy (2006), Butkus Award (2007), and Lott IMPACT Trophy (2008), while earning back-to-back Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors to go with back-to-back-to-back All-American honors (consensus in 2006 and 2008, unanimous in 2007).
On Thursday, Laurinaitis and the linebackers got to talk to the beat after practice. This year, the Buckeye linebackers will likely feature the guy who earned the third-most snaps, a promising up-and-coming stud, and a Big Ten transfer. Top to bottom, the room is deeper than it has been, so the competition is going to be key.
With Riley Pettijohn out for the spring, Payton Pierce and Christian Alliegro have been the leaders. Of course, what pushed Styles and Reese last year was the presence of Pierce as the third linebacker. Now, Laurinaitis expects everyone to battle. “The standard was always to try to get our room to a point where you felt a healthy amount of pressure to perform in the sense of, if I have a bad day or two, I could be passed up by the next guy because of the talent level in the room. And I constantly want that grittiness to it, because I certainly felt it when I was here.”
Next Men Up
Pierce and Alliegro have the coaches excited because they look like what you’d expect from Ohio State linebackers. Laurinaitis mentioned that he loved how instinctual, tough, and competitive Peirce is. He spoke highly of the junior, calling Pierce a “throwback Mike linebacker.”
To this point in his career, Pierce has amassed 47 tackles, one and a half tackles for loss, an interception, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. He leads the returning Buckeyes at linebacker (at least, those who played for Ohio State last year) with 262 snaps a year ago, with 149 as a true freshman in 2024.
Alliegro is a known name in Big Ten circles, of course. Over the last three seasons in Wisconsin, Alliegro has totaled 124 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, eight sacks, and three pass breakups. He could be most famous for his decision to play with a broken arm…against Ohio State. Even with a club on his hand, Alliegro was a force on the Badgers’ defense.
Laurinaitis took note of him when looking at the film of that game and was impressed by Alliegro’s toughness.
Talented Depth
Laurinaitis mentioned that the room is “very talented, but…young and green.” That’s about as apt a description as you can have.
Pierce and Alliegro are the most experienced linebackers on the team. Pettijohn played 76 snaps as a true freshman last year. TJ Alford, also a true freshman in 2025, played 50. Garrett Stover and Eli Lee have been promising depth pieces for a while now, but neither has gotten the opportunity to show it on the field.
Of course, Laurinaitis got a haul in the 2026 recruiting class. Headlining the group is five-star recruit, the second-best linebacker in the nation, and the second-highest-rated Buckeye in the class, Cincere Johnson. The latest from the Glenville Pipeline, Johnson could be a surprise to earn snaps in this deep linebacker room. The question will be whether or not he plays more than Pettijohn and Alford did in 2025 as highly-touted freshmen.
It would not be surprising to see Johnson flashing on special teams to earn the right to get into the rotation.
Overall, the Ohio State linebacker room is currently worse off than it was last year…but it’s deeper. Of course, you can say that about pretty much anywhere on the defense, considering the mass exodus of talent to the NFL and to the portal. However, there are plenty of reasons to think it can be just as good as the Reese/Styles tandem from 2025. Reloading talent is the standard at Ohio State, and Laurinaitis looks to be up to the challenge again.
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