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ESPN named the college football replacements for all first round picks from the 2026 NFL Draft. They have some big shoes to fill, but these players

ESPN names college football replacements for all first round picks in 2026 NFL Draft

On3 Football

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Spend any amount of time at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, and you’ll hear a familiar phrase.  “You can’t have a bad day around

Ryan Day 1o1 OSU AFI

It's more than just one game for Ohio State and Ryan Day as the Buckeyes look for the 'hat trick' in 2026

Let’s not overhype it — this is spring football.  But at the same time, something feels different.  When you start listening to what’s coming out of

Inside Texas Football Recruiting

Inside Texas

Texas vs Ohio State: How Spring Football Is Telling the Same Story

COLUMBUS — Ohio State coach Ryan Day knows to take the game Saturday against Grambling State with a grain of salt -- at least to some extent.  The

Riley Pettijohn by Mick Walker -- Lettermen Row --

Lettermen Row Football

Lettermen Row

Riley Pettijohn, other freshmen defenders pushing for more opportunities

When Texas meets Ohio State on Saturday, several Buckeyes with Lone Star roots will be playing with more than pride on the line. For these players,

Ohio State mascot, Brutus, and University of Texas mascot, Hook 'Em, interact during a filming of the Joel Klatt Show on Ohio State's campus on Aug. 28, 2025. The Buckeyes' kick off the 2025 season against the Longhorns at Ohio Stadium on Aug. 30. (© Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Texas vs Ohio State: Buckeyes with Lone Star Roots Carry Motivation

There have been a handful of recruitments involving the Texas Longhorns and Ohio State Buckeyes on both sides of the field before Saturday's big game

5-star CB Devin Sanchez (Sam Spiegelman, On3)

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Look at the Texas-Ohio State recruiting battles on the Buckeyes roster

On3 has assembled the comprehensive Preseason True Freshman All-American Team for 2025.  Led by On3’s Clark Brooks, Rivals National Scout Cody

Freshman AA Team AFI

2025 On3 Preseason True Freshman All-American Team

COLUMBUS — Ohio State doesn't need Riley Pettijohn to emerge as a breakout freshman in the defense this fall.   The Buckeyes have senior leader Sonny

Riley Pettijohn by Matt Parker -- Lettermen Row --

Riley Pettijohn expected to play immediate role for Buckeyes

COLUMBUS—For the last few years, the Ohio State defense has been a 'safety-driven' group.  It's a cliche that's almost become a running joke for

James-Laurinaitis-by-Birm

James Laurinaitis building 'fast and feared' Ohio State linebacker room

COLUMBUS — Ohio State has always expected freshman linebacker Riley Pettijohn to push for a special teams role and maybe even more during his first

Ohio State freshman linebacker Riley Pettijohn sheds black stripe

COLUMBUS — Ohio State signed a top-five class in the 2025 recruiting cycle, and most of those signees joined the program for spring practice. All of

Freshman report: Who is flashing in first summer at Ohio State?

With the spring semester underway, most top 2025 recruits have enrolled early and are now participating in winter workouts and preparing for college

early enrollee college football standouts

True Freshmen Report: Early intel on 2025 recruits already turning heads

COLUMBUS — Ohio State hired James Laurinaitis, a program legend at linebacker, to be the team's linebackers coach last offseason. The Buckeyes were

Sonny Styles by © Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Roster Reset: Buckeyes have pieces needed to reload at linebacker

The 2025 recruiting cycle officially comes to a close in two days. Ahead of February’s National Signing Day, On3 has updated its player

Top LBs on300 AFI

Rivals Football Recruiting

Rivals

Top 10 linebackers in the final 2025 On300 rankings

We'll finish the 2025 recruiting recap with a look at defensive recruiting, absent defensive tackle which got its own post.   Edge  We were

Jonah-Williams

How Texas' 2025 defensive recruiting class came together

COLUMBUS — National Signing Day has come and gone for Ohio State. The next wave of Buckeyes signed their letters of intent and a large majority of

Tavien St. Clair by Mick Walker -- Lettermen Row --

Lettermen Row Football Recruiting

Which Ohio State 2025 signees will be early enrollees?

All but one of the top 50 linebackers in the 2025 cycle — per the On3 Industry Ranking — have signed with a college program.  The 44 blue-chip

Zayden Walker, Riley Pettijohn, Elijah Barnes

Top linebacker signees in the 2025 class

COLUMBUS — Ohio State signed the country’s No. 5 recruiting class (as of Friday morning). The Buckeyes are bringing in an elite class full of

Riley Pettijohn

Three position groups that Ohio State upgraded in the 2025 class

COLUMBUS — Ohio State signed the country's No. 5 recruiting class (as of Thursday morning). The Buckeyes are bringing in yet another elite class full

Devin Sanchez by Mick Walker -- Lettermen Row --

Four Buckeyes signees who could make instant impact next season

Ohio State has seemingly wrapped up their class of 2025 when it comes to the Early Signing Period, inking 25 prospects (with 1 more expected today)

Ohio State AFI Five-Stars

National Signing Day Superlatives: Ohio State recruiting class of 2025

Ohio State has signed 25 players (with 1 more still pending) in its recruiting class of 2025, a group that is outstanding and, as things stand, ranks

Mark-Pantoni-and-Ryan-Day-by-Birm-LR

Grades for the Ohio State recruiting class of 2025

The Early-Signing Period is here and Ohio State is set to once again bring in one of the country’s best recruiting classes. Lettermen Row is tracking

Riley Pettijohn Ohio State official visit

Signed: Buckeyes add elite linebacker Riley Pettijohn to the program

National Signing Day is just over two weeks away, and while things have seem fairly settled for Ohio State, they're in fact just heating up for the

Gleitman's Goods: Latest buzz and intel on the Ohio State 2025 recruiting class two weeks from National Signing Day

Inside Texas takes a closer look at the Longhorns linebacker and defensive back big board for 2025 and where they stand with the remaining targets

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Recruiting Humidor: Texas' 2025 LB, DB targets in focus

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Riley Pettijohn, the son of former Syracuse All-American defensive lineman Duke Pettijohn, spent the early part of his sporting career playing safety and staring on the basketball court. But he made the move to linebacker ahead of the 2022 season and it paid off, as he racked up more than 30 scholarship offers before his junior season at McKinney High. "Being switched to a new position, it was hard," he said. "But we worked through it. I kept working hard at all the little things. I grew some and added weight (30 pounds). It was the right move. I like being a thorn in the side of offenses. I like to fly around and just make plays."

McKinney

Texas

Ohio State Buckeyes

Linebacker

Georgia

Miami

Riley Pettijohn's size, athleticism and skill set reminds of Channing Tindall. Pettijohn is faster at the same stage. 

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