Ohio State junior Garrett Stover entered the Buckeyes’ spring camp with minimal expectations of emerging as a key contributor within the linebacker unit, but that has proven far from the case.
In his freshman campaign on Ohio State’s national championship team in 2024-25, Stover played just a single snap. While he improved that mark to 22 reps as a sophomore a season ago, totaling five tackles, Stover was still buried on an ever-talented linebacker corps featuring two potential first-round picks in Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese.
Stover has turned heads this offseason, as one of four Ohio State players to earn Iron Buckeye honors, and after major improvement since last season’s disappointing finish, the linebacker is poised for a breakout campaign in 2026.
Stover, who earned the Iron Buckeye honors for the winter alongside safety Jaylen McClain and wide receivers Jeremiah Smith and Brandon Inniss, said his nomination was a culmination of the work he’s put in behind the scenes since arriving in Columbus.
“It means everything,” Stover said. “It’s been a big goal of mine ever since I got here. I understand what it means to be an Iron Buckeye. I think it’s just a testament to my teammates, the strength staff and what they’ve seen in me. I’m so grateful for it.”
Stover continued, expressing what he felt it meant for him to exemplify being an Iron Buckeye, believing it lies in consistency and attitude.
“People look for an Iron Buckeye to be the same guy day in and day out,” Stover said. “I just come to practice every day and you know what you’re going to get and expect of somebody like that. So I just try to come on every day and push my teammates as I’m pushing myself.”
Stover, a native of Sunbury, Ohio, said much of that consistency and confidence was built in the weight room, as he looked to grow into a more complete linebacker and as a veteran leader heading into the season.
Ohio State defensive coordinator Matt Patricia said that Stover’s growth in all areas has been evident throughout the offseason.
“Give him all the credit in the world, he came and blew the doors off the offseason program,” Patricia said. “It was awesome to watch him be able to do that. He worked really hard, changed his body, and changed all the work that he put into himself. Then he built the confidence behind it. So that’s the biggest part of it for me, is he has momentum of his confidence right now.”
Patricia added that Stover’s progress is already translating to the field, as the linebacker’s strong showing in Tuesday’s practice caught his attention.
“We’ll watch the tape today, but Tuesday, there were some really nice plays in there where he probably wasn’t making those plays last year,” Patricia said. “So it was almost like the light bulb came on. It was a really savvy play. He had three of them that were really nice.”
Still, the 6-1, 228-pound Stover must earn his spot in a deep linebacker room featuring Payton Pierce, Christian Alliegro, Riley Pettijohn, TJ Alford, and Cincere Johnson. However, the Iron Buckeye nomination is a promising start to a potential career year.
Stover said, regardless of where Patricia puts him, he’s willing to play in any spot, expressing confidence that his skill set fits any situation.
“I’m a guy that can come into any situation,” Stover said. “I bring physicality, will do any dirty work and just anything asked of me, I’m willing to do it.”
