
Ohio State’s 4-Star Inside LB Ready to Dominate the Big Ten
Payton Pierce, a 6-2, 230-pound 4-star inside linebacker from Lovejoy High School (Allen, TX), signed with Ohio State in April 2023 and is projected as a top-2024 LB with an 83 overall rating in EA Sports College Football 27[1][2][3]. His differentiators include elite tackling intensity, a physical Mike Backer style that fits Ohio State’s aggressive defensive scheme, and a reputation for ‘destroying’ the Big Ten as a high-energy, battle-tested recruit[3]. With no reported injury history and a relentless personality, Pierce is a high-fit linebacker for teams seeking a dominant, immediate-impact defender who brings both size and ferocity to the middle of the field[1][2].





