Former highly touted recruit from Texas has already started his climb for stardom with the Ohio State Buckeyes
The freshman impressed in a way that makes you think he’s going to be a star down the road.
The Ohio State Buckeyes took care of business as expected in Week 2, rolling past Grambling State in a 70-0 blowout. After opening the season with a tough matchup against the Texas Longhorns, the Buckeyes entered their second game as 55-point favorites—and they covered with ease.
Ohio State jumped out to a 35-0 halftime lead and kept the starters on the sideline for most of the second half. Just a few plays into the third quarter, the Buckeyes extended the lead to 42-0 when defensive tackle Kayden McDonald forced a fumble that freshman linebacker Riley Pettijohn scooped up and returned 23 yards for a touchdown.
Riley Pettijohn looks like a future star for the Ohio State defense
Landing Pettijohn was a huge win for the Buckeyes in the 2025 recruiting cycle. The former five-star was ranked as the No. 2 linebacker in the class and one of the top prospects out of Texas. Early on, he already looks like Ohio State’s No. 4 linebacker behind Sonny Styles, Arvell Reese, and Payton Pierce.
Pettijohn’s touchdown marked the first by a freshman for the Buckeyes this season—something few would have predicted to come from a linebacker. After he scored, freshman running backs Bo Jackson and Isaiah West also found the end zone.
At 6-foot-2 and 232 pounds, Pettijohn looked like one of the best players on the field whenever he was out there. He forced a fumble in the second half, finishing with two tackles, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and a defensive touchdown—all in limited snaps.
With Sonny Styles certain to leave for the NFL after this season and Reese also a candidate to move on, Pettijohn looks poised to step into a starting role in 2026. If Ohio State weren’t so deep at linebacker, it would already be impossible to keep him off the field. Even so, don’t be surprised if he plays a significant role as the season goes on.
Next up, Ohio State has its only home night game of the year in Week 3 when the Buckeyes host the Ohio Bobcats—another chance to rotate depth and showcase young talent.
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