Lucas (Texas) Lovejoy four-star linebacker Payton Pierce (6-1, 225) announced Tuesday that he is committed to Ohio State, continuing a strong stretch on the recruiting trail for the Buckeyes.
Pierce is the No. 151 overall prospect and No. 15 linebacker in 2024 and chose Ohio State over Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and Texas A&M. His commitment is just the second on defense for Ohio State in 2024, joining Sunbury (Ohio) Big Walnut four-star linebacker/safety Garrett Stover (6-0, 195).
Pierce was personally offered by defensive coordinator Jim Knowles back in January and made his first visit to Columbus the weekend of March 25, though the Buckeyes had an upper hand in Pierce’s commitment through graduate assistant James Laurinaitis.
Though Laurinaitis has only been on staff for a couple of months at Ohio State, he had previously recruited Pierce during his time at Notre Dame, and that relationship helped to secure Pierce’s commitment to the Buckeyes.
Pierce, who is being recruited at Mike linebacker by Ohio State and Knowles, racked up 131 tackles – 21 for loss – with six sacks and five forced fumbles as a junior and will now look to build on that as a committed prospect to the Buckeyes.
Other key targets at linebacker for Ohio State include Jefferson, Ga., five-star Sammy Brown (6-2, 230) and Nashville (Tenn.) Lipscomb Academy four-star Edwin Spillman (6-1, 216), who recently included the Buckeyes among his top six schools.
