Ohio State football 2026 black stripe tracker | Buckeyes Wire
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It's a right of passage within the Ohio State football program. You may be in the program once you commit and sign that letter of intent or transfer paperwork, but you aren't considered an "official" part of the Buckeye brotherhood until the black stripe is peeled off the silver helmet, revealing the scarlet stripe down the middle.
It's a tradition that started when former OSU coach Urban Meyer took over, and it has continued through the Ryan Day era. Each time a player shows the work ethic and intangibles that align with the culture at Ohio State, there's a short little ceremony to remove the black stripe, and the earlier it happens, the better chances of the player making an immediate impact.
We're keeping track of all the players who shed their black stripes in 2026, starting with spring practice and continuing through the fall. Here's where things stand, as real-time as possible, with the players who have had their black stripes removed so far this season. With 51 new faces this year, there's going to be plenty to keep up with.
It all started in the spring and is now coming fast and furious during Ohio State football fall camp.
Ohio State football players who have shed their black stripes
| Player | Position | Year | Date Removed |
| Kyle Parker | Wide Receiver | Redshirt Junior | March 28 |
| Earl Little Jr. | Safety | Redshirt Senior | March 28 |
| Brock Boyd | Wide Receiver | Freshman | March 31 |
| Christian Alliegro | Linebacker | Senior | March 31 |
| Qua Russaw | Defensive End | Redshirt Junior | April 2 |
| Devin McCuin | Wide Receiver | Senior | April 4 |
| James Smith | Defensive Tackle | Senior | April 4 |
| John Walker | Defensive Tackle | Redshirt Junior | April 8 |
| Mason Williams | Tight End | Senior | April 8 |
| Dominick Kelly | Cornerback | Sophomore | April 10 |
| Terry Moore | Safety | Redshirt Senior | April 13 |
| Hunter Welcing | Tight End | Redshirt Senior | April 13 |
| Chris Henry Jr. | Wide Receiver | Freshman | April 15 |
| Ja'Kobi Jackson | Running back | Graduate Senior | August 11 |
| Stanley Jackson Jr. | Running Back | Junior | August 11 |
| Jay Timmons | Cornerback | Freshman | August 12 |
| Luke Fahey | Quarterback | Freshman | August 15 |
| Khary Wilder | Defensive End | Freshman | August 15 |
| Simeon Caldwell | Safety | Freshman | August 19 |
| Cam Calhoun | Cornerback | Senior | August 20 |
| Dalton Riggs | Long Snapper | Graduate Senior | August 24 |
| Jordan Thomas | Cornerback | Freshman | August 25 |
| Legend Bey | Running Back | Freshman | August 25 |
We'll continue to update this as time goes on, as we expect a flurry through the end of fall camp that culminates with the start of the season on Saturday, Sept 5 vs. Ball State.
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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Ohio State football 2026 black stripe tracker | Buckeyes Wire
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