The Ohio State Buckeyes are the reigning national champions of college football. However, the Buckeyes have already undergone a significant amount of turnover, which raises some doubt about their ability to repeat.
Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles departed the program in a horizontal move to take the same role with the Penn State Nittany Lions. Similarly, offensive coordinator Chip Kelly departed to become the new offensive coordinator for the Las Vegas Raiders in the NFL.
Now, the Buckeyes are losing another piece of their championship fabric in a lateral move, according to one prominent college football insider.
“BREAKING: LSU has hired Ohio State Director of Player Personnel Sam Petitto. Petitto, an Amite native, spent nearly a decade with Nick Saban as Alabama’s Director of Personnel Operations,” reported On3’s Shea Dixon.
Fans reacted to the news on social media.
“This actually is a r really big deal, especially when you consider how many top recruits from Amite specifically, over the years left Louisiana and went to BAMA when Nick was there,” one fan wrote on Twitter.
“Man, LSU is not playing around with its staff hirings right now. Brian Kelly is getting everything he could possibly ask for to win. The time is now, BK. I believe!” one fan added.
“This is MASSIVE!!! I’m telling yall I don’t think it’s this year, but LSU winning a natty in the very near future,” another fan added.
It’ll be interesting to see how Ohio State pivots after losing such a critical piece of its staff.
About Qwame Skinner
Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.