BREAKING : The head of player personnel for Ohio State football leaves for a position at LSU

Sam Petitto, who has been serving as Ohio State’s Assistant Athletic Director of Player Personnel, is leaving to join Brian Kelly’s staff at LSU. He’s expected to take on the role of Director of Scouting and Personnel Strategy for the Tigers .

Key details:
Petitto, originally from Amite, Louisiana, previously spent eight seasons at Alabama as their Director of Personnel Operations, helping land top-3 recruiting classes under Nick Saban

He joined Ohio State in February 2024, contributing to last season’s national championship staff, before wrapping up 18 months in Columbus .

LSU is likely banking on Petitto’s regional ties and recruiting prowess—particularly in Louisiana—to enhance their talent pipeline, including inking prospects like Blaine Bradford

What it means:
For Ohio State: This becomes the fourth turnover at the Director of Player Personnel position in four years—after Zach Grant, Marc Votteler, and most recently Petitto—all moving on after short stints

For LSU: Adding a heavyweight recruiter like Petitto signals a strong offseason push. His Louisiana roots and national contacts could give LSU a recruiting boost under Kelly’s regime .

Let me know if you’d like a deeper analysis on how Ohio State might replace him, or what this hire could mean for LSU’s upcoming class.