Four-star linebacker Riley Pettijohn staying grounded during the recruiting process
Because he’s the No. 40 overall prospect in the 2025 On3 Industry Ranking, Riley Pettijohn understandably is the subject of a lot of attention. Whether it’s from head or assistant coaches at Power 4 schools or from recruiting media, the McKinney (Texas) star is under plenty of scrutiny as one of the most sought-after prep linebackers in his class.
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But even while trying to model his game after greats like Fred Warner and Roquan Smith, Pettijohn continues to be a son and brother his parents have loved watching go through the recruiting process.
Pettijohn, ranked as the No. 3 linebacker and No. 9 prospect in Texas, is the son of Duke Pettijohn Sr., who earned All-America honors as a defensive lineman at Syracuse, and Juliet Jones Pettijohn. He’s the brother of Sloane and Duke Jr. In all their eyes, Riley has remained a grounded young man going through a difficult process with maturity and wisdom.
“Proud of his discipline and dedication to becoming the best football player while remaining a good kid and representing the family name with high regards,” Duke Sr. told Inside Texas.
Riley has told Inside Texas in the past that he doesn’t just want to be good, but he wants to be great. Aspiring to play like Smith and Warner should be clear indications of that. That’s not limited to on-the-field matters, as Riley plans to graduate early and enroll at his school in January of 2025.
He’s been a top prospect for a number of schools, like Texas, USC, Florida State, Ohio State, and Texas A&M, for some time. But the Pettijohns have known the McKinney LB has had a future in football for a while.
“As soon as he got into pads,” Duke Sr. said about when he knew Riley was talented. “He was physical and playing with his hair on fire as a young kid. He played well even when it was hard and enjoyed it.”
There was a singular moment for both Riley and Juliet.
“Ninth grade, his first interception when he ran it back for a touchdown and then ran another back for a touchdown,” Juliet said. “I said ‘wow, he’s good.’ Then in 11th grade, he really gook off making plays all over the field.”
For Sloane, it was when Riley picked up his first scholarship offer from SMU during his sophomore year in 2022. UTSA, Texas State, North Texas, and Baylor weren’t far behind. Nor were Texas Tech, Michigan, Texas A&M, and Auburn.
The Longhorns offered in October of 2023 during their pursuit of Riley’s 2024 teammate, Xavier Filsaime.
The process has been a difficult one for Pettijohn, and it’s ongoing while he’s taken on a challenging course load ahead of graduating early. But through it all, Riley’s remained a son and brother his family remains extremely proud of.
“He takes AP classes and doesn’t look for the easy way out,” Juliet said. “He’s still friends with some of the same kids from Little League and hasn’t switched up on them despite who he’s become. He loves and puts his family first. He will protect his family at all costs and stays grounded in his faith.”
He’s followed his dad’s advice throughout the process.
“Stay humble and stay focused on the main thing,” Duke Sr. said. “Don’t get caught up in the fancy, new, shiny things, but stay true to who you are and pay attention to the things that matter like scheme fit, how they can develop you, and relationships with coaches on and of the field.”
Visits are his next step. Texas will officially host him on June 14-16 after a scheduled spring game trip on April 20. Ohio State, Texas A&M, and USC are also slated to host the elite defender.
“I don’t have an order,” Pettijohn told On3. “They’re all even.”
Florida State is a factor, too, as brother Duke Jr. currently is a student at Tallahassee’s Florida A&M.
Riley plans to make a decision before his senior season. That will mark the end of a process that has only given Duke Sr. additional reasons to be proud of his son.
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“No flashbacks, just cool to see coaches and people in the game that I knew and played with still in the game,” Duke Sr. said. “It’s a cool experience to see how small the football world is. It’s a cool experience to go through with him.”
Joe Cook co-authored this article
