Payton Pierce

I didn't have a great sense for the linebackers.

And again, like no one got on the stat sheet often enough to feel like you had a really representative sample there, but you know, was how, how was Peyton Pierce? How's Christian Allegro? How was TJ Alfred? Did you have any sense for them or was it just kind of, I

mean, the longest run of the day was nine yards by Kent state.

So

And I mentioned how I don't like scenes and I don't like feels.

But it seems like, or it feels like, you feel Riley Penny John more, even though there's only three tackles.

But Peyton Pierce, no glaring issues there.

There was one time where he didn't quite get around the block to the wall, but somebody else was there.

We talked about it where He went after Arch.

Peyton Pierce was just waiting for Arch to come to him, and Bradley Pennyjohn just shot past and made the play.

He leads the team in tackles for loss now with two.

He had one and a half against Texas.

basically play two or three linebacker spots, making plays, and getting after Drew DeShields, the Kent State quarterback, and seeing him bring him down.

But I think right now Riley Pettyjohn is one of those guys that people want to see more of on defense, and for good reason.

Yeah, and Christian Allegro, Peyton Pierce, those guys are still obviously going to be getting plenty of snaps.

It seems to me like there was – TJ Alford and Riley Pettyjohn were sort of viewed a little bit interchangeably coming into the season.

And I think T.J. Alford needs to play more.

You know, I know Peyton Pierce does a great job of getting the defense lined up.

He's the epitome of a leader.

If James Laurinaitis loves you, that says a lot to me.

But, like, not today, but against Texas, I saw Peyton Pierce getting bounced around a lot.

Not exactly what you want out of your middle linebacker.

But, yeah, man, I mean, Pettijohn's the one.

But they also want to play both sides of the card and say, we're here to out-recruit this room every time.

Yeah, and that's what happened.

Peyton Pierce was MIA last week.

Our front two defensive tackles were not getting any push whatsoever.

Just not the same defense as last year.

I was mostly disappointed with them.

I think Riley Pettijohn had the best game out of the linebackers.

Uh, Peyton Pierce was MIA.

Um, as Tyler says, he was hitting the wrong gaps.

We talked about it where he went after Arch.

Peyton Pierce was just waiting for Arch to come to him.

And Bradley Pennyjohn just shot past and made the play.

He leads the team in tackles for loss now with two.

basically play two or three linebacker spots, making plays, and getting after Drew DeShields, the Kent State quarterback, and seeing him bring him down.

But I think right now, Riley Penny-John's one of those guys that people want to see more of on defense, and for good reason.

Yeah, and Christian Allegro, Peyton Pierce, those guys are still obviously going to be getting plenty of snaps.

It seems to me like there was...

And, you know, let's see more of him.

But also that same position, one of the things I had written down is let's see a natural and instinctive, impactful first half from Peyton Pierce.

where there doesn't seem to be the hesitation.

We talked in the Texas rewatch of the sack with Riley Pettyjohn.

Peyton Pierce was right there, but Riley Pettyjohn ran right by him and went for Arch Manning rather than kind of just waiting for Arch to maybe come to him.

So let's see a more comfortable, natural, impactful, as I said, Peyton Pierce situation.

running forward into the play and not waiting for the play necessarily to come to him.

Just being a more confident guy, I think is something that this defense is going to need.

I can't wait to see Jordan Thomas play, and I think he's going to get an opportunity tomorrow as well.

At linebacker, the thing I want to see most at linebacker tomorrow is Peyton Pierce make a highlight play.

Our man's had a rough week, man.

People are dogging him, being compared to some of the worst linebackers we've seen in modern Ohio State history, which is total nonsense.

Bennett Christian's a great Buckeye.

But everything I've said about Bennett Christian has been accurate.

When you talk about Peyton Pierce, he's not been bad.

He's just not been good enough.