Buckeyes' Pierce ready to start, take leadership role

COLUMBUS — Ohio State has some big decisions to make before its season opener against Ball State on Sept. 5. One of the biggest will be finding replacements for last season's starting linebackers, Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese Styles and Reese are expected to be taken in the first round of the NFL draft, maybe in the first half of the opening round. Payton Pierce, a junior who recorded 47 tackles and played in every game last season as OSU's third linebacker, appears to have inside track for one of those starting positions this season. "I feel like I was able to have a lot of production for the limited number of snaps I had," said Pierce after a spring practice at the Woody Hayes Athletic Facility on Thursday. "It helps having that in-game experience. I got to play defensive snaps every game last year. "I have a lot of confidence coming into this season. I know what I messed up, but I also know what I did well." Two big plays from last season stand out from his resume — an interception at Illinois and forcing a fumble and recovering it against Miami in a College Football Playoff game. Pierce's confidence extends to his ability to be a team leader, too. "I've gotten to step up a lot more, be more vocal," Pierce said. "I've considered myself a leader since I was real young. I was a two-time captain on my high school team. I felt like there were opportunities even in my freshman year when I could lead the freshman guys and stuff like that. "I feel like I've done a good job of leading up until now. Obviously, my leadership role has stepped up with the whole team. I feel like I've a pretty good job but I've got to get better." Pierce called his opportunity to be a starter a long-held dream. "I'm super grateful for it," he said. "It's a great opportunity, a dream I've had since I was a little kid... I dreamed about being a starting linebacker in a big-big time program and it's here now." One of Pierce's roommates, Christian Alliegro, a senior who transferred from Wisconsin, is a possible starter at the other linebacker position for OSU. Alliegro was honorable mention All-Big Ten last season when he made 53 tackles. In 2024, he had 66 tackles and three sacks. Alliegro made it clear Thursday that improving his chances to go to the NFL played a big role in his decision to enter the transfer portal. "I just wanted to come somewhere that could help me for the next level," Alliegro said. "Obviously, Ohio State has the best players and best coaches to do that. So it was kind of a no brainer." Alliegro suffered a broken arm in the first quarter of Ohio State's 34-0 win over Wisconsin last season, but returned to play the second half.