The Four BIGGEST Linebacker Concerns
Ohio State lost two elite linebackers from last year’s national championship defense, so how concerned should Buckeye fans be about the position in 2026?
In this episode of the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr discuss the biggest linebacker concerns facing Ohio State this season, including the challenge of replacing Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese, the pressure on Payton Pierce as the new leader of the defense, the importance of tackling consistency, and how much Riley Pettijohn, Christian Allegro, TJ Alford, Eli Lee, and others could factor into the rotation.
The Buckeyes may not have two first-round linebackers again, but can Matt Patricia and the Ohio State defense still find the right answers?
Join us at BuckeyeInsiders.com for more Ohio State football coverage, message board discussion, insider analysis, and more.
00:00 Welcome to the Buckeye Weekly Podcast
01:01 BuckeyeInsiders.com is live
01:56 The biggest concerns at linebacker
02:25 Replacing Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese
03:17 Can Ohio State still have very good linebacker play?
05:41 Why the Buckeyes don’t have to replace everyone one-for-one
06:25 Concern No. 2: Tackling without Sonny Styles
07:26 How much does Ohio State’s margin for error shrink?
09:15 The impact of losing Caleb Downs behind the linebackers
10:20 Concern No. 3: Payton Pierce taking over the defense
11:25 Why Pierce may already be prepared for the role
13:09 Concern No. 4: Figuring out Riley Pettijohn’s role
14:20 Why missing spring matters for Pettijohn
15:26 How TJ Alford and C.J. Hicks-style versatility could help the rotation
16:28 Eli Lee, depth, coaching, and final thoughts
17:10 Subscribe, comment, and join BuckeyeInsiders.com
Speaker 1: Hello, everybody, Welcome to you the buck Eye with the Podcast.
I'm Tony Gerdaman here as always with time, more time.
Speaker 2: How's it going, Tony? Is a show about concerns today.
Let me tell your friends. You don't have concerns. For
those listening, this is me holding up a Matt's hat.
That is concerns. Well, Hio State football fan, you got
no concerns. It's your life is fine. It's fine. Don't
worry about it. It's fine. Tony, Why don't you tell
us about all the terrible, terrible concerns you have about
Ohio State football? Go ahead? Are the Mets not doing well?
Are they not great? Not what they were hoping for? No? No,
it's I'm at the point where I just have like
random people sending me stuff like can you believe they
did Yes, I've been a fan for like forty five years. Yes,
I can believe that they did that. Yes, I've seen it.
Speaker 1: Before, starting pitcher tours, rotator cuff opening a jar of
peanut butter.
Speaker 3: What is this about?
Speaker 1: Third time? Third time it's happened this decade. Anyway, Welcome
everybody to the buckye Weekly Podcast. We do have some
concerns one thing is we do not have a concern about.
Right now, the website is live. Buckeye Insiders dot com
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Speaker 2: Go on the message boards, start a thread about the Mets.
I have to be nice to you there. It's fine,
Like I can't. I'm powerless. I'm powerless to stop you.
Speaker 1: Yeah, you'll just tim will just be like good thread,
thumbs up, like no notes. So there are some concerns
that about the Ohio State linebackers, and that's what the
show is about today. Because I think you had two
first team All Americans starting at linebacker last year. You
had two top ten NFL draft picks starting at linebacker
last year. So to expect things to be like I
don't see an issue. You lose those guys like that,
there's gonna be a drop off. Now, the concern, the
first concern I have here, Tom, is you're replacing two athletic, big,
athletic freaks and you're just doing it. You're doing it
with dudes, and we know there's a tier. The freaks
are above the dudes, and dudes are just fine. But
you're replacing two guys who's six' four two, fifty can,
run can play the, edge can cover, ground are, long
and you're replacing them with guys who are just normal linebacker.
Size SO i think for, me that's the first issue
is just learning to maneuver without those guys and having
to maneuver with just, regular probably really good.
Speaker 2: Linebackers AND i think this is a legitimate concern to have.
THAT i think this is an absolutely fair one to
have because The ohigsted linebacker or last year very well
might have been the best Linebackers Ohio state has ever
had in pro. History that is not a thing you
can just, say run it back when those guys are
off to THE, nfl, like, oh just get two more
of those, Guys, like, no they do. Not they both
went in the top ten in THE nfl, draft because
they do not make linebackers like, that let alone two
linebackers on the same team at the same time at
the college level doesn't. Happen SO i think this is
one where my potential answer to this is a little
bit multi. Tiered one, is you got the, linebackers AND
i think you've got very smart, linebackers and you have
very athletic, linebackers and you've got guys WHO i think
can check a lot of those same. Boxes does this
go from best linebackers In ohio state history to merely
very Good Ohio state linebackers or even heaven, forbid Good
Ohio state. LINEBACKERS i don't think you're going below Good
Ohio state. Linebackers now that might be second Team All
Big ten kind of third Team All Big ten kind
of linebacker. Play BUT i think you know this is
this is not the floor is going to fall out
and it's the year where you've got uh Caveon pope
tweeting from the locker room and all that stuff that
you're not gonna have that this is this is a
year where the floor is a lot higher than. That
so the other thing THAT i think factors in here
Is Matt, patricia Where Matt patricia has not always had
to do it with you, know, Well i've always Had
Lawrence taylor coming off the, edge AND i So i've
never really had to have A PLAN b because it's
Just Lawrence taylor coming off the. Edge he hasn't had,
that like he, said good. Linebackers certainly he, had you,
know plenty of good linebackers At New. England but he's
been able to do it with lots of different guys
and there are ways to have you, know you can
do stuff with athletic freak linebackers that you can't with other.
Guys but he has a PLAN, b he has A PLAN.
C and you know this is not going to catch
him by. Surprise And, okay get off the plane In
austin and, go, Whoa we're we're sunny AN rvl goo
like this is he is aware with about you, know
who he's working, with what he's working. With he has
continued to be in a good mood every time we
have seen, him SO i think he probably, knows, yeah
there are there are solutions.
Speaker 1: Here so they didn't show up for spring and he's just,
Like i'm sure they'll they're not gonna missfall. Camp there's
no way they're.
Speaker 2: Gonna no.
Speaker 1: The idea that things That Ohio state won't have suitable.
Linebackers they did go to the portal for a, linebacker
But Peyton pierce was the number three last. Year he's
a starting middle. Linebacker THERE'S i think the thing for
me THAT i keep going back to is there's a
number of, options and they're varied and they're. Different so
as we've said, before you don't have to replace it
one for. One you, know replace Ar valries with just one.
Guy you can replace him with. Two you can Replace
sonny with two. GUYS i think there's some options. There
my my second concern here is they were really good last,
year the linebackers And sunny styles as the main middle.
Linebacker one misstackle finally Against indiana Or. Miami that was
the only mistackle he had all. Seasons so my concern
here is is this defense dependent upon a middle linebacker
that doesn't miss. Tackles and we Know Paynton pierce is
A texas tackling. Machine i've said it, before two hundred
tackles a year basically In texas high school, football real.
Football but what if there's a mistackle a, game what
does that do for this? Defense and there's no necessarily
No Caleb downs around, Either so that's going to put
more pressure on the. Linebackers and SO i just we
need to see it before we know for. Sure but
what if this isn't just a ninety nine point nine
percent of the time the tackle is going to be, Made.
Speaker 2: Well it's certainly you're you're eating into your margin for
error there a little. Bit and the good news is
That Ohio state was so dominant last year that even
if you, say, well one more mistackle a game or
one and a half more mistackles a game out of
the linebackers is going to be worth an extra field
goal for the, opponent and Sunny stott and you know
have Losing Caleb downs in the back end of the.
Defense that's gonna be worth four points a. Game, Okay
now the opponent opponent average score is up to like
sixteen points a, game and that's you, KNOW i don't
know That caleb downs is worth how much is A Caleb.
DOWNSWORTH i don't know that you could do a you,
know wins above replacement, calculator like like you do in,
Baseball BUT i think those numbers are probably. High even
if they are a touchdown worse than they were last,
year there's still probably a top ten to fifteen defense
in the, country AND i think there are areas where
they're going to be. BETTER i think the corners could
be better this. YEAR i think that the safety play
could be better this, year you, know incorporating the nickel
position in there as. WELL i think the defensive ends
could be at you, know at least as. Good in
the defensive tackles could be. BETTER i, mean there's a
lot of potential room for improvement as, well where it's
not just, well you, know the mountain climber only goes
one way on the on the prices right game and
once he goes over the, edge like, well that's. It
they can potentially improve in some areas as. Well so,
AGAIN i think this is a completely valid, concern AND
i think it's something where you are going to see
a miss tackle and everyone's gonna go, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa,
Whoa what is that? THAT i don't remember that ever
happening last, year and it. Didn't but they've had lots
of good defenses where they missed some tackles of the linebacker's.
Speaker 1: Position, Yeah i'm Sure Tommy eickenberg miss some tackles his
final two years when he was a two time second
Team All, American All Big, ten first Team All Big,
ten don't really MISS i remember too. Many Cody simon
missed tackles his your, Year so like there's going, there
there will be, SOME i, think but that's just how?
Many what does it lead? To is it looking like
twenty eighteen? DEFENSE i doubt, it probably.
Speaker 2: Not but.
Speaker 1: You Mentioned Caleb. Downs WHEN i Asked Ryan day at
the pro, day how do you Replace Caleb? Downs he's,
like you. Don't it's just everybody else picking up some
slack and doing. It AND i think that's kind of
how you Replace Sonny styles and r Val. Reice but
What Sunny styles is that middle linebacker that's like there's
a lot of pressure on him when he may be
the only linebacker because the other guy is up front
on The penny, front whether That's Christian, Aleegro eliegro Or
Riley Penny john OR Tj, alford one of those guys
may be lined up. There so that just puts more
pressure On Peyton pearce and leads me to my third
concern Is Peyton. Pierce and the thing, is whenever you
talk to anybody around the, program, coaches, Teammates peyton, himself no.
Concerns it's very similar to when we would talk To
Jim knowles before the twenty twenty four, season Before Cody
simon had taken over For Tommy. Eikenberg, fully there was
no concern About Cody. Simon it was just understood, that,
oh he's going to be, fine and he. Was there's
been a lot of that Around Peyton piers where it's, like,
yeah you, know he's the. Leader now he, is he
is the, Captain now he is the middle, linebacker he
is the green, dot this is his. Defense what's the.
Problem and we know the history of that third linebacker
coming in as the number one and it. Works it
has worked out every time for the Buck, eyes and
there's no reason to think it won't other than the
fact that if it doesn't there's some.
Speaker 2: Issues, yeah, undoubtedly if you have a break in that,
chain then, yeah it. Does it does create some. ISSUES
i don't know THAT i see any big concerns there
because it feels Like Peyton meers has kind of checked
a lot of those boxes. Already where he's been out,
there he's been, reliable he has been he was the
green dot at times last, year so you, know even
that's not a new thing for. Him he you, know
he's someone that they talk about as a very cerebral,
player but, also you, know is someone who has the
physical tools to be able to play the position in
a couple of different ways depending on what he's being
asked to. Do so you sort of have it's a
little bit of an assembly line where you, know you
would go through that With Ohio state cornerbacks for a.
While you, know for a while where it, was, yeah
you'd see him a little bit as a freshman and
then they play a little bit as you, know maybe
start as a sophomore and they'd be pretty, okay and
then in their third year they would be a first
ROUND nfl draft, pick and then it was, like well
what about the next? Guy and you, know eventually you
do have a miss, there but you could sort of
usually see that coming where it's, like you, know you
had there was the year THAT i don't remember which
draft person it, was but had Seven banks as the
number one draft prospect in the, nation and.
Speaker 1: It was, LIKE i think that was A walter mock.
Speaker 2: Draft was it? Okay, yeah it was just like what
were basing that?
Speaker 3: On that?
Speaker 2: Was that was like you Were there were sort of
things where it was, LIKE i haven't really seen that.
Yet you Saw Peyton pierce out there in big moments
last year and he was good like he was he
Was he did the job that they needed him to
do in those. Moments so it feels very logical that
he could just sort of, okay take one step, forward
and now you're ready To you're ready to do even.
Speaker 3: More.
Speaker 1: Now my last concern isn't really it's more maybe a,
curiosity but it is still an, issue and that's they
need to figure out What Riley Petty john is going
to do and how he's going to do, it and
who's whose snaps will he be taking all of. That
they got to figure that. OUT i do think you're
going to see a pretty heavy rotation of. LINEBACKERS i
Think Peyton pierce obviously is playing personal like he was
playing based on what we saw FROM Tg alfred and
What James lord And iis has said he's playing this.
Year SO i don't Expect Riley Penny john to not
play just because he missed. Spring he's too talented and
he played last, Year so just not knowing exactly what
he can do and having to figure that out on
the fly in, CAMP i think is a slight. Concern
but there's also plenty of time to figure all of
that out because they've got two and a half three
weeks before they start really game planning For, texas so
there will be. Time but until we know, IT i
think that's a concern because he played a little bit
last year and some mop up time things like. That
they need more out of, him they want more out of.
Them he wants to do. More got to figure out
what that's going to.
Speaker 2: Be, yeah anytime guys miss the, spring it's always you
can you just we talked about that With Josh biddie
On The Offensive Line, show, like, man you'd really love
to have Had Josh pidia out there because he's missed
enough time that you just you think you know what
you're gonna, get but you. Don't you haven't seen it,
yet so you just you don't know for. Sure And
Riley pettijohn was someone WHO i can tell YOU i
have seen him without pads, on and he looks the
part like he looks like he's ready to play and
be a, really really effective Athletic big ten, linebacker but
we haven't seen it. Yet AND i think the good
news on this front is that he's not someone where
he is the only solution they, have like he is
the only possible, answer and if he doesn't, work then
well all hope is. Lost they have other guys who
can fit in. There if he is a little behind
because of the, spring if he's someone who second year
is kind of on that trajectory THAT i just talked
about with the, corners where it's, Like, okay you didn't
play much as a. Freshman sophomore, year you're, better but
then it takes till the third year where it kind
of clicks and you really become the player that you could.
Be that would be a perfectly reasonable outcome for him this,
Year and if it, is they. Don't he doesn't have
to go play fifty snaps at linebacker for. Them they
have other potential Options if that's the. Case if he's, ready, great,
like go, Play go play your thirty or forty snaps
or whatever it. Is but they're not solely relying on.
Him any of those individual guys you could say all
the same stuff about t J, alford like if he
is ready to, go, great he could very well be
ready to go this. Year. Great if he's, not that's.
Okay they have other potential solutions in that. Room AND
i don't think we've even Said Kuai rusau's name, yet
WHICH i know he's with the defensive. Ends but you,
know when you're talking about how are you going to
sort of recreate THE Rvl reese experience in the, aggregate
Like Kuay russol probably factors into that conversation a little.
Bit so they have enough other potential solutions that you've.
Got you're kind of playing with some insurance. Here you,
know you've got lots of guys that could do, it
and you don't need to hit on all of.
Speaker 1: Them, yeah and there's enough, THERE i would agree with.
You and we didn't Mention Eli, lee who had a
really strong spring. Game and the, teaching the, coaching all
of THAT i would assume is going to be there as,
well because it has been for a. While and these
are just slight, concerns you. Know, More AS i, said
some of these are just curiosities because we haven't seen them.
YET i expect things will end up just. Fine do
you guys have any? Concerns if you, do go ahead
and throw them in the comments. Here if you're watching on,
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Speaker 3: Later let it move, away the loads. HIM i wish
you'd never meant nothing we.
Speaker 2: Were if you can tell me that's the, moor it's all.
Speaker 3: Right we could steal currently tonight