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Payton Pierce Next Up at Linebacker for Ohio State
Ohio State linebacker Payton Pierce has big shoes to fill with the departure of first-round picks Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles. Jake Trotter of ESPN listed Pierce as the Buckeyes' under-the-radar player, and he doesn't expect linebacker to be a weakness for Matt Patricia's defense despite the All-American players leaving the program. "With Reese and Styles gone, Pierce, who had 44 tackles as a reserve last season, looks ready to step into a starting role," Trotter wrote. "The No. 5 inside linebacker recruit in the country two years ago out of Lucas, Texas, Pierce chose Ohio State over the Longhorns. In Pierce and rising sophomore Riley Pettijohn, the Buckeyes have a promising young linebacking tandem to retool the defense around." Ohio State's defense has been dominant over the last two seasons, but much of its personnel has moved on to the NFL. However, the program continues to reload on the recruiting trail and in the transfer portal. A step back on defense is likely, but Ohio State will likely flex a top Big Ten stop-unit once again in 2026. Pierce will play a significant role in that effort.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
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