Payton Pierce
American football player (born 2004)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Payton Pierce (born December 12, 2004)[1] is an American college football linebacker for the Ohio State Buckeyes.
| No. 26 – Ohio State Buckeyes | |
|---|---|
| Position | Linebacker |
| Class | Sophomore |
| Personal information | |
| Born | December 12, 2004[1] |
| Listed height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Listed weight | 223 lb (101 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Lovejoy (Lucas, Texas) |
| College | Ohio State (2024–present) |
| Stats at ESPN | |
Early life
Pierce is from Lucas, Texas.[2] He grew up competing in wrestling and football, starting the latter in third grade.[3] He first attended Allen High School before transferring to Lovejoy High School in Lucas.[4] He competed in both wrestling and football in high school and compiled a record of 30–1 as a wrestler, winning the 2022 5A state championship while competing in the 220 pounds (100 kg) weight class.[3]
Playing for Lovejoy's football team in 2021, Pierce posted 131 tackles, six sacks and five forced fumbles.[5] He missed much of the 2022 season due to injury.[6] In his senior year, 2023, he tallied 181 tackles, 40 tackles-for-loss (TFLs), eight sacks and four forced fumbles, being named the 7-5A Division II MVP and the 2023 All-Area Defensive Player of the Year by the Allen American.[6] Pierce was a finalist for the Butkus Award as the best high school linebacker nationally and was invited to the All-American Bowl.[2] He was ranked a four-star recruit, one of the top-15 linebackers nationally and a top-200 player overall in the 2024 recruiting class.[7] Pierce committed to play college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes.[8][9]
College career
As a true freshman in 2024, Pierce recorded four tackles in 14 games for the national champion Buckeyes.[2] He saw more significant playing time during the 2025 season, recording 43 tackles, an interception and a forced fumble.[10][11]