Freshman Linebacker Riley Pettijohn One of First Two Buckeyes to Shed Black Stripe in Fall Camp

The 6-foot-2, 220-pound linebacker is one of the first two Buckeyes of preseason camp – along with fellow freshman Nate Roberts – to shed his black stripe. Pettijohn received the news after practice Tuesday and was welcomed by his teammates as the "newest" Silver Bullet.

The Linebacker unit just added a monster in the middle, welcome @r_pettijohn pic.twitter.com/mdxstXzwc9

— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) August 5, 2025

“I think I can do a little bit of everything,” Pettijohn said of his on-field game in the spring. “I can cover, I can rush the passer, I can play the run, too. I think those are all my strengths. But I think my speed plays a factor.”

Pettijohn came to Columbus rated the No. 42 prospect nationally and the No. 2 linebacker in the 2026 recruiting class following a dominant senior season where he recorded 136 total tackles and 5.5 sacks for McKinney High School.

He and Roberts are the second and third members of the 2025 freshman class to lose their black stripe along with wide receiver Quincy Porter, the only freshman to have his stripe removed in the spring.

Ohio State will rely primarily on Sonny Styles, Arvell Reese and Payton Pierce at linebacker this season, but Pettijohn has the inside track to the other spot on the two-deep and could emerge as a major contributor by the end of the year based on his talent.