Payton Pierce
Ohio State#140 overallDraft Movement
Down 21 spots since Jun 8
Scouting Report
Payton Pierce wrestles the game the way he wrestled in high school. A Texas state champion at Lovejoy who went 30-1 on the mat, he was also a Butkus Award finalist as a linebacker and a four-star recruit who signed with Ohio State. He won a national title as a true freshman reserve in 2024 with four tackles across 14 games, then grew into the rotation and started in the middle of the Ohio State defense in 2025. He posted 43 tackles, an interception and a forced fumble across 14 games with 15 run stops, and earned the program's Iron Buckeye honor for his offseason work. He capped the year with a near-perfect game against Miami in the playoff, forcing a fumble and anchoring the run defense as an old-school downhill thumper between the tackles. The wrestling background shows in his leverage and finish. He reads the run cleanly, triggers downhill, and is charged with only three missed tackles, and he held up in coverage well enough to add an interception in open space. He is slated to wear the green dot as Ohio State's 2026 defensive signal-caller. The holdups are volume and disruption. He worked a rotation role so the body of work is small, he registered zero pressures with no pass-rush production, and at 223 pounds he is light against downhill power inside. His block-shedding has to improve against climbing linemen and his range is good rather than rare.
Strengths
- Reads the run cleanly as a downhill trigger between the tackles
- reliable tackle finish, charged with only three misses
- stoned Minnesota for four stops and eight tackles in limited duty
- covers cleanly and added an interception in open space
- 15 run stops and a forced fumble in his first year in the rotation
- near-perfect playoff game against Miami with a forced fumble
- slated to wear the green dot as Ohio State's 2026 defensive signal-caller
- Texas state wrestling champion whose leverage and finish translate directly
Weaknesses
- Worked a rotation role, so the body of work is still small
- no pass-rush production at all, registering zero pressures on the year
- undersized at 223 pounds against downhill power inside
- block-shedding must improve against climbing linemen
- range is good rather than rare to the perimeter
- 43 tackles is a modest total
- projection leans on instincts and trajectory more than a thick resume
NFL Comparison
Jack Campbell instincts-and-leverage thumper; Cody Barton undersized signal-caller; Ventrell Miller downhill run defender between the tackles
College Stats
2024 (Fr): 14 G as a reserve on the national title team, 4 tackles; 2025 (So): 14 G with starts in the middle, 43 tackles, 15 run stops, 1 INT, 1 FF, 3 missed tackles; 8 tackles and 4 stops vs Minnesota; forced fumble vs Miami in the CFP
College Market Value
Our model prices him at $614K on the open college market, built from production, pedigree, role and Ohio State's program money. No credible deal has been reported for him this season.
Every P4 player priced, math public: College players & NIL · Roster spend
Measurables
Awards & Honors
Ohio State Iron Buckeye honoree; member of the 2024 national championship team; Butkus Award finalist and Texas state wrestling champion in high school; named 2026 defensive signal-caller