2024 is about as make-or-break as it can be for Ryan Day and the Ohio State Buckeyes. Ever since getting beat in the College Football Playoff National Championship, the Buckeyes have zero Big Ten titles, zero CFP wins, and zero wins over Michigan.
While there may be some extenuating circumstances with the latter, the Buckeyes had their chance to beat Georgia and just could not get it done. Now with three straight disappointing 11-2 seasons with back-to-back-to-back losses to Michigan for the first time since the Clinton administration, Day is making some key staffing decisions.
Ryan Day’s Decision to Bring in an OSU Legend is Paying Off
There have been a number of changes to the coaching staff after last season. After years of incredibly poor special teams play, Parker Fleming is no longer on the payroll. Tony Alford defected to Michigan and his vacancy was filled by Oregon’s Carlos Locklyn.
On offense, Day took a step back and brought in offensive guru, Chip Kelly. Defensively, the biggest move was the promotion of Ohio State legend and College Football Hall of Fame nominee, James Laurinaitis.
The linebacker corps for Ohio State has been lacking. Gone are the days of Darron Lee, Joshua Perry, and Raekwon McMillan at the position.
This year, Tommy Eichenberg fell to the fifth round of the draft while Steele Chambers went undrafted. Since 2018, Day’s first season, four linebackers ended up drafted. Pete Werner was the highest-drafted of the group in 2021 in the second round.
Meanwhile, his predecessor had five linebackers drafted with all going within the top 102 picks. There were two first-rounders and a second-rounder in that mix.
James Laurinaitis is Nailing Recruiting
Three years ago, Ohio State signed an incredible 2021 recruiting class. However, of the 23 recruits, only one was an athlete who ended up as a linebacker. That player, Reid Carrico, is now with the West Virginia Mountaineers.
Now, with five months to go until Early Signing Day, the Buckeyes have the best linebacker duo in the 2025 class in Riley Pettijohn and Tarvos Alford.
According to the On3 Industry Composite, the Buckeyes have the second and fourth-best linebackers in the nation.
What Experts Are Saying
Pettijohn is one of the elites at the position. 247Sports‘ scouts have this to say:
Athletic volume tackler who can fit multiple off-ball linebacker roles in varying schemes. Well-developed build with a stout, athletic base. Early on, looked like a candidate to ultimately play off the edge, but now clearly belongs as a traditional linebacker who exhibits broad pursuit range with excellent verified athleticism to bolster his long-term projection…Displays chase-down athleticism and closing speed to the degree of compensating for occasional less-than-ideal angles. Knack for effectively playing around blocks rather than through them.
May need to take a more urgent approach in the hole at the next level. Comfortable dropping into zone. Possesses requisite athleticism to become a competent man defender of backs and tight ends with continued technical development. Strong football pedigree to accompany excellent multi-sport athletic profile on the track. Could provide immediate dividends on special teams. Possesses the physical and athletic traits to become a multi-year high-major starter who could develop into a coveted NFL Draft candidate.
Alford isn’t a scrub, either. Out of Florida, the four-star backer has scouts raving:
Tackle machine that floats around the second level looking for opportunities to shoot in and make stops. Has added some good mass since he first emerged on the recruiting scene as a freshman and is now believed to be hovering around 6-foot-2, 215 pounds with some additional length in the arms.
Follows his blocking keys to the action and will meet ball carriers with plenty of force in the hole, usually unloading through the hips. Has proven to be an above-average athlete on passing downs that can drop back and cover up a zone.
Projects as a potential multi-year starter and possible impact player at the Power Four level that can stuff the stat sheet and help slow down the run, like he did in high school where he racked up 114 stops as a junior in one of Florida’s larger classifications. Freelance play style can put him in some bad positions at times, but gap-closing speed and overall physicality could lead to plenty of success on Saturdays after a developmental year or two.
Silver Bullets, Reloaded
James Laurinaitis promoted to LB coach has gotten #5 and #4 LB in country in the 2025 class.
Prior to JL, Ohio State had only 2 top 5 LB’s in total with the previous 6 classes.
— FFBuck (@FFbuckCLE) July 6, 2024
It’s obvious that promoting one of the program’s greatest players at the position is working.
This is Laurinaitis’ first recruiting cycle as a full-time linebackers coach. In 2022, he served as a Graduate Assistant for Notre Dame. Last year, he came home to work in the same capacity.
Now, he’s beating some of the top linebackers coaches in the nation for elite recruits. Ohio State ready has Brian Hartline and Tim Walton recruiting at elite levels at their respective positions with Ryan Day locking down quarterbacks and Larry Johnson turning in solid classes on the defensive line.
You have to wonder what the linebackers are going to look like this year with C.J. Hicks, Cody Simon, and Sonny Styles fighting for two spots. That will be Laurinaitis’ first on-field test.
