Tarvos Alford visited Columbus this past weekend as a committed member of Ohio State’s 2025 recruiting class. But during his official visit with the Buckeyes, Alford said, he got even more of a glimpse of what life at Ohio State would be like.

“When you are on an unofficial visit, you are just really around the coaches and your parents,” Alford said. “With the official, they let you go around with the (players). That was great, getting the feel of the brotherhood, how everybody feels about each other.”

As one of two committed linebackers in the class along with Akron three-star Eli Lee, Alford’s official visit weekend came with some recruiting of his own.

Alford said he spent most of his time with 2025 four-star linebacker Riley Pettijohn, the No. 4 linebacker in the class per 247Sports’ composite rankings. Alford and Pettjohn were hosted by roommates C.J. Hicks and Sonny Styles.

More on Tarvos Alford: Why Ohio State sees 2025 linebacker commit Tarvos Alford as a future All-American

“We got to know each other well,” Alford said of Pettijohn. “He’s a funny guy. I feel like he felt more comfortable around the staff and things like that. And I think he really likes (James) Laurinaitis. I think we’re going to be in a good position with him.”

Alford, the No. 5 linebacker in the country, also said Ohio State “made a really big gap with the other schools” for 2025 four-star defensive end Justin Hill after “going in depth” with Hill on the jack position.

But in Ohio State’s pitch to Pettijohn and Hill, and in the program’s continued pitch to Alford, Alford said the Buckeyes did not shy away from the realities that faced each recruit if they chose the program.

“Everybody that wants to be great sees what I see, that if you come to Ohio it’s not going to be easy,” Alford said. “It’s not going to be the easy way out. You’re going to have to work for everything you got, but you’re going to know at the end that you came out a better person and a better football player.”

What's next for 2025 linebacker Tarvos Alford?

Alford said Ohio State has not taken its foot off the gas in terms of recruiting him.

Alford said he has an official visit scheduled with Central Florida June 14-16, and a possible official visit to Illinois next weekend.

“It’s just a clarity thing to make sure I’m going to the right spot for me,” Alford said of his other possible official visits. “But I’m locked in. I love Ohio State and things like that.”

After an official weekend with players such as Pettijohn and Hill, Alford said Ohio State made a “great impression on all of them.” He even predicted “at least three of them will commit.”

Alford does not describe himself as an aggressive recruiter. He said he texts targets, builds relationships to make them feel more comfortable about Ohio State. But with the Buckeyes, Alford said, there’s not much he needs to pitch.

“You know, going against the best at each position every day,” Alford said. “They ‘Wide Receiver U,’ they (Best In America), making the DBs and receivers better, they've got the best two running backs in the country making the linebackers better, they have very athletic linebackers in their room now making the linebackers better, an O-line, D-line sort of thing.

“I feel that everybody sees that and if you're a dog, you want that. And if you’re not, you’re going to run away from it.”

Get more Ohio State football news by listening to our podcasts

 cgay@dispatch.com 

@_ColinGay

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: 2025 LB Tarvos Alford talks Ohio State official visit, Riley Pettijohn