Five-star Ohio State prospect announces he will commit this week: Buckeye Breakfast

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Another big-time domino is set to fall this week for Ohio State, as five-star linebacker Riley Pettijohn will announce his commitment this Saturday.

Pettijohn, from McKinney, Texas, is considering Ohio State, Texas, Texas A&M and USC. Though as of early in the week, it feels as if it’s a two team battle between Ohio State and Texas.

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A five-star prospect, Pettijohn is the No. 31 overall player in the 2025 class and the No. 4 linebacker. And for what he’d mean to the class as a whole, and to the linebacker corps, adding Pettijohn is one of Ohio State’s top priorities in the cycle.

The Buckeyes have Eli Lee and Tarvos “TJ” Alford committed already, but Pettijohn would be the fifth-highest rated commit in the class behind three defensive players (cornerbacks Devin Sanchez and Na’eem Offord and safety Faheem Delane). His commitment would also mean that Ohio State would have seven top 50 players in the 2025 class, five of which would be on defense.

Ohio State linebackers coach James Laurinaitis has been in search of a third linebacker for the class for a few months now, and there’d be no bigger prize, both in terms of player and statement, than pulling Pettijohn out of Texas.