2026 Football Roster
Jersey Number 26
Payton Pierce
- Position:
- Linebacker
- Height:
- 6-2
- Weight:
- 223
- Hometown:
- Lucas, Texas
- Last School:
- Lovejoy
- Year:
- Junior
Career Highs
Appeared in all 14 games as a sophomore, making three starts, totaling 475 snaps at linebacker and on special teams... Finished the season with 43 total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, one interception, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble.
Appeared in 12 games as freshman, totaling 149 snaps at linebacker and on special teams...Finished the season with four tackles.
- 7 Total Tackles vs. Minnesota (Oct. 4, 2025)
- 1.0 Tackles for Loss vs. Minnesota (Oct. 4, 2025)
- 1 Interception at Illinois (Oct. 11, 2025)
- 1 Forced Fumble vs. Miami (Dec. 31, 2025)
- 1 Fumble Recovery vs. Miami (Dec. 31, 2025)
- 2025: Honorable Mention All-Big Ten, CSC Academic All-District, Academic All-Big Ten, OSU Scholar-Athlete
- 2024: OSU Scholar-Athlete
Appeared in all 14 games as a sophomore, making three starts, totaling 475 snaps at linebacker and on special teams... Finished the season with 43 total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, one interception, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble.
- TEXAS (8/30): Ended the game with one tackle on 26 snaps.
- GRAMBLING (9/6): Tallied a six tackles on 36 plays.
- OHIO (9/13): Saw action on 36 plays, posting four tackles.
- at WASHINGTON (9/27): Posted one tackle on 18 plays.
- MINNESOTA (10/4): Notched seven tackles in his first career start while also having a career-high 1.0 tackles for loss on 40 snaps.
- at ILLINOIS (10/11): Totaled four tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss while also grabbing an interception for 15 yards on 40 plays.
- at WISCONSIN (10/18): Ended the game with 46 snaps in his second career staff, tallying two tackles.
- PENN STATE (11/1): Finished the game with 40 plays and totaled six tackles.
- at PURDUE (11/8): Totaled 38 snaps in his third start of the season, grabbing six tackles.
- UCLA (11/15): Saw action on 35 plays, tallying two tackles.
- RUTGERS (11/22): Ended the game with 37 snaps, securing five tackles.
- at MICHIGAN (11/29): Tallied 30 plays in the game and had one tackle.
- vs. INDIANA (12/6): Posted 23 snaps.
- vs. MIAMI (12/31): Totaled two tackles on 30 snaps in the game.
Appeared in 12 games as freshman, totaling 149 snaps at linebacker and on special teams...Finished the season with four tackles.
- AKRON (8/31): Made his collegiate debut, playing on 12 snaps.
- WESTERN MICHIGAN (9/7): Finished the game with 16 plays.
- MARSHALL (9/21): Totaled 15 plays.
- at MICHIGAN STATE (9/28): Recorded 12 snaps.
- IOWA (10/5): Grabbed one tackle on five snaps.
- PURDUE (11/9): Tallied two tackles on 20 snaps.
- at NORTHWESTERN (11/16): Posted seven plays.
- INDIANA (11/23): Ended the game with 10 plays.
- MICHIGAN (11/30): Made one tackle on seven snaps.
- TENNESSEE (12/21): Finished the game with 16 plays.
- vs. OREGON (1/1): Recorded time on eight plays.
- vs. NOTRE DAME (1/20): Tallied10 snaps.
- Communications
- Payton was part of the 2024 Ohio State recruiting class
- He enrolled in classes in January and continued his rehabilitation on a high school injury
- Payton was a four-star prospect and a national top-200 rated player in the 2024 class.
- A finalist for the High School Butkus Award, which goes to the nation’s top prep linebacker
- In 14 games as a senior, finished with 181 tackles, 40.0 tackles-for-loss and eight sacks
- Added four forced fumbles and two blocked kicks
- Named the District 7 5A Most Valuable Player
- Earned Dallas Morning News’ Defensive Player of the Week honors after a 22-tackle performance that included 4.5 tackles-for-loss in a playoff win over the top-ranked team in the state
- Was just as productive as a junior, collecting 131 tackles, 21.0 tackles-for-loss, six sacks and five forced fumbles
- Selected to play in the 2024 All-American Bowl on Jan. 4 in San Antonio
- Parents are Jamie and Geno Pierce
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