2024 Freshman Class Report: Linebacker Garrett Stover

This is the fifth installment in a series where Buckeye Huddle looks back on each member of Ohio State’s 2024 signing class and the impact they had in their first season, as well as the impact they could have during the upcoming 2025 season. Up next is linebacker Garrett Stover.

Ohio State didn’t have to go far to land linebacker Garrett Stover, who played 30 minutes north of the OSU campus. Stover was a First-Team All-State linebacker as both a junior and senior at Big Walnut High School in Sunbury. He posted 89 tackles as a senior and 92 as a junior. Stover spent his first two years of high school as a safety before moving to linebacker.

As a recruit, Stover was ranked the No. 10 linebacker in the 2024 class and the No. 142 player in the nation overall per 247Sports. He signed with Ohio State over offers from Notre Dame, Michigan State, Florida, Northwestern, Pittsburgh, and others.

2024 Season

Garrett Stover (6-1 220) played in five games this season, but one of those games was the blowout win over Tennessee in the College Football Playoff, so he was able to maintain his redshirt. He saw just one snap on defense as a true freshman and did not record any statistics.

Stover was essentially fourth or fifth in line for playing time at Will and/or Sam, so snaps were never going to be easy to find as a true freshman. He was able to use the year to get bigger, stronger, and gain a better understanding of what the linebacker position requires at Ohio State.

So Now What For Garrett Stover?

There is still an air of unknown about the 2025 Ohio State defense under new coordinator Matt Patricia. Will there be more three-linebacker sets? If so, that moves everybody a little bit closer to playing time. Is CJ Hicks staying at linebacker or is he moving to edge rusher? There are still some questions that need to be answered in order to give a clearer picture of the linebacker depth chart.

Garrett Stover will likely be working at Will linebacker but could also be getting snaps at Sam linebacker as well. Starting Will linebacker Sonny Styles returns for his senior season. Hicks backed him up last year, followed by true freshman Payton Pierce. Pierce is expecting to move to Mike linebacker this year. If Hicks also moves positions, then a clearer path opens up for Stover.

Linebackers coach James Laurinaitis did bring in three linebackers in the 2025 recruiting class, and also went into the transfer portal and added Duquesne linebacker Ty Howard. Given Garrett Stover’s size and speed — as well as his background as a safety — he could be part of OSU’s plans as a Sam or nickel linebacker as well.

Laurinaitis wants versatility from his linebackers. As Stover gets more reps and experience, that versatility will begin to show itself. The first place that will happen this year, however, is on special teams. The sooner Stover finds a role or three on special teams, the sooner opportunities will arise for him defensively.

WR Damarion Witten | OT Ian Moore | DE Dominic Kirks | SAF Jaylen McClain

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