The Ohio State linebacker corps is the most important position group and the most concerning heading into 2026.
Two of the most important departures from Ohio State Buckeyes' 2025 defense come from the same position group. Their two linebackers were the heart and soul for the defense that was regarded as the best in the country for the majority of last season.
Veteran Sonny Styles was not only an athletic specimen, but was one of the key leaders of the Ohio State defense and the entire team. He could make every play, he was always in the right position, and he was as durable as any player in America. Styles didn't miss any games and could be relied upon at any point in the field to make any play.
His running mate, Arvell Reese, was the story of the year in Columbus. He entered the year relatively unknown and leaves it as a top-10 draft pick. He discovered that he is one of the elite pass rushers in all of America and made himself a ton of money.
Together, the two became the best linebacker corps in America, and they leave big shoes to fill.
The good part is that we have seen the guys who are going to get the first crack at it.
Riley Pettijohn is going to get his first real chance at being the guy in the middle of that defense. He is a five-star talent who, in his true freshman year, notched just nine tackles while appearing in 5 games for the Buckeyes.
His best performance was a three-tackle game against the Ohio Bobcats in a blowout, but his first game against real competition, against Penn State, he notched two tackles, and he was off and running.
Beside him will likely be Payton Pierce to start the season. Pierce is a bit of a different story. He will be entering his Redshirt Junior season with a bit more experience than Pettijon. He appeared in every game last season and notched 44 total tackles on the year.
It was a mix of special teams and defensive reps, but he offers more of the veteran presence that the Buckeyes are after.
The third name to remember at the start of the year will be Wisconsin Transfer Christian Alliegro. Alliegro comes to Ohio State as an experienced playe,r which is what the Buckeyes were craving this offseason, but he is coming off a significant regression in production from 2024 to 2025.
He finished last season with just 49 tackles but four sacks on the year, which was a major positive.
The Buckeyes linebackers over their last two seasons have flown way under the radar. It's not that they have been underappreciated; they have just been overshadowed by some of the other great players on the roster.
Now that Ohio State has to replace two of its stars, its production will be magnified. The heart of the defense is at the linebacker position, and the Buckeyes have some great potential, but that doesn't mean anything if they don't meet it.
Buckeyes Roundtable also offers a fan community and message board. We’d love to have you join us to talk all things Buckeyes. Click the “Join” button at the top of the page to join our community for free.