“Being a Buckeye is the best decision I ever made.” James Laurinaitis knows exactly what the linebacker room at Ohio State is supposed to look like because he’s lived it.

I spoke with the former three-time All-American linebacker for Ohio State, who joined the staff as a graduate assistant in 2023 and was quickly promoted to linebacker coach the following year. Like many Buckeyes today, due to national recruiting, Laurinaitis is not from Ohio, but considers Ohio State and Buckeye Nation his family.

Laurinaitis grew up in Minnesota and talked at length about playing for Coach Jim Tressel and Luke Fickell. He mentioned that coming here immediately gives you a new family and opens up so many doors and resources through Buckeye Nation.

“Buckeye Nation becomes your family,” Laurinaitis said. “When you come here and really dive in, it just keeps growing.”

As he spoke about Ohio State as a family, having to learn the history and tradition of the linebacker position here since he did not grow up as a Buckeye fan, and then becoming a Buckeye, the tone of his voice was grateful. Buckeye Nation doesn’t adopt new members; it just expands its family. Like Laurinaitis, everyone can become an official member of the Ohio State family, no matter your story.

Coaching the position he once played, Laurinaitis is shaping the next group with the same standard that defined his own career. Being a Buckeye still means family to him, and that mindset drives how he develops the room from the top down.

In two years as the full-time position coach, Laurinaitis has elevated the linebacker room to new heights. As a coach, he parlayed his time as a player in Columbus alongside his decorated 8-year NFL Career. That standard is most evident in how he coaches the players behind Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese, the ones preparing for their turn as next men up.

Styles and Reese gave the room flexibility and trust, but Laurinaitis points to something bigger than production. He sees how they work, study, and prepare. His requirement is for the younger linebackers to watch every detail. Laurinaitis confirmed that the younger players are preparing well for their roles next year. 

“They love the game. They love the study,” Laurinaitis said. “When you’re around guys like that, it’s a blessing.”

Laurinaitis coaches with clarity by focusing on teaching linebackers how to play fast. That means preparing them for the reality of the position. “We’re dealing with blocks every play,” he said. “You cannot get blocked here. You cannot go one for one. It’s not allowed [here].” That message lands hardest with the next guys up.

When it comes to looking ahead to next year, Laurinaitis already saw Payton Pierce as a starter in 2025, as evidenced by his rotation and meaningful snaps this season. Pierce rotates now, but Laurinaitis views him as one of the toughest and most consistent players in the room. He has earned the trust of his coaches and teammates.

“He’s tough, and he’s consistent,” Laurinaitis said. “I believe he’ll be a leader of the defense.”

After Pierce, Laurinaitis sees opportunity everywhere. TJ Alford has made one of the biggest jumps through the fall, showing real growth in his game. Riley Pettijohn continues to stack consistent days. Garrett Stover and Eli Lee keep getting better with each rep, too, according to Laurinaitis. 

Wisconsin transfer Christian Alliegro enters the program after notching 124 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, and eight sacks over his three years in Madison. His frame is 6’4 and 245 pounds, which can be likened to Arvell Reese in terms of size. The trio of Pierce, Pettijohn, and Alliegro gives the Buckeyes another solid group in the middle of the defense.

The younger linebackers bring different tools, and Laurinaitis likes that. He understands what that lineage means inside the program. “They’re all a little different,” he said. “You’ve got to love the potential in all of them.”

Laurinaitis coaches the same way he prepared as a player by teaching concepts and focusing on habits because talent alone doesn’t sustain a room.

“You’ve got to teach young guys how to study,” Laurinaitis said. “How to build a routine.”

That process mirrors what Laurinaitis experienced as a freshman, watching older linebackers prepare and learning how to shape his own approach. Now, he sees the same cycle forming again. Laurinatis recalled Arvell Reese from his freshman year and seeing his burst, twitch, and natural movements.

He encouraged him to stick with it because Ohio State emphasizes trust and development, as he believed he could be a first-round pick. Now, Laurinatis’ projection was correct as Reese’s hard work certainly paid its dividends this year, now projecting as an early first-round NFL Draft pick. 

Laurinatis said the genetic makeup of Reese and Sonny Styles, who also bought into trust and development, is something he selfishly wishes he could’ve had while playing linebacker.

Cody learned from Tommy. Tommy learned from the generation before him. Now, Styles and Reese model the standard for the next group. “That’s the idea of the room,” Laurinaitis said.

Staying ready is vital at Ohio State because when the moment is called, it’s too late to prepare. You cannot rise to the occasion, but only revert to the level of your training and preparation. Ryan Day and the staff consistently emphasize routine and a strong foundation.

Day preaches that the details that often decide matchup games come from what has already been built.

“When you get to [a big game or late in the season], it’s going to come down to your fundamentals,” Day said. “Your daily decisions. The walkthroughs. The meetings. The practices. All of it adds up.”

Day described Ohio State’s “brick” tradition — a symbolic reminder of the body of work accumulated after each practice. Each brick represents a day of investment, stacked together as a visual reminder of preparation and accountability.

“That allows us to play with confidence,” he said, “knowing we put that work in every single day.”

At Ohio State, the linebackers under James Laurinaitis prepare every day like their time is coming soon. In this linebacker room, it always is, and the talent development is evidence that these players can trust the process. The 2026 defense is in good hands with the next wave of Ohio State linebackers.