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If there’s one position group you can count on to step up in a big way for the Buckeye defense this year, it’s the linebackers, where Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese are expected to feature heavily into a new era of Ohio State defense.
Styles and Reese
are in good company. Earlier this month, linebackers coach James Laurinaitis announced the Buckeyes actually have three guys who are starter-caliber players—the aforementioned two, plus true sophomore Payton Pierce.
Part of the 2024 recruiting class, Pierce, a four-star prospect out of Texas, was a finalist for the High School Butkus Award, given to the nation’s top prep linebacker. Pierce’s productivity in both his junior and senior seasons was impressive—he finished his junior campaign with 131 tackles, 21 tackles-for-loss, six sacks, and five forced fumbles, and netted 181 tackles, 40.0 tackles for loss, eight sacks, four forced fumbles, and two blocked kicks during his senior season.
Pierce’s promise made him one of the first recruits Laurinaitis reached out to when he joined OSU’s coaching staff. Though Pierce spent part of last spring rehabbing a serious leg injury from high school, it was clear to Laurinaitis that he was a strong fit for the Buckeyes’ linebacker room thanks to his tremendous physicality.
In 2024, Pierce saw most of his playing time on special teams, though he did take defensive snaps in five games and recorded four tackles.
Now, he’s ready to help the team in their efforts to win back-to-back national titles.
Pierce got off to a strong start during the preseason, as one of eight players who were named Iron Buckeyes at the conclusion of summer workouts earlier this month. The award is given to players who demonstrate “unquestionable training, dedication, determination, discipline, toughness and leadership.”
Of the honor, Pierce said, “I feel like being an Iron Buckeye, having a big offseason and getting bigger and stronger, I think it just meant a lot because our teammates vote on it too. Just knowing that every day when we do those one-on-one competitions and leading guys, people are noticing that I was giving everything I had.”
Pierce knows his spot in the depth chart is earned, not given, but he feels competing with Styles and Reese has made him better and has created an atmosphere of mutual respect in the room. That determination and mutual respect have set the Buckeyes up well at linebacker, with Pierce set to take plenty of rotational snaps behind the other two, as well as lining up with them on three-linebacker plays.
Pierce’s ability to swap in for the other two gives the Buckeyes some powerful depth at the position—especially should someone get injured. It also allows for flexibility, giving defensive coordinator Matt Patricia plenty of options with linebacker utilization.
Plus, as a Texas native, Pierce has some additional skin in the game with the Buckeyes’ season opener—bragging rights with family and friends back home. If he can channel that competitive spirit into his play against the No. 1 team in the country to help the Buckeyes secure a win, he’ll also be one step closer to securing his place as a defensive player to keep your eye on this season and in the years to come.
