Linebacker Gabe Powers, Receiver Caleb Burton Lose Black Stripes

Ohio State freshman linebacker Gabe Powers and freshman wide receiver Caleb Burton are the latest members of the football team to lose their black stripes.

The removal of the black stripe from a player’s helmet signifies that they have done enough to be considered a full-fledged member of the Buckeye football team.

Bowl practice is an opportunity for young players to get more reps than they do during a normal week in-season, and Powers and Burton have both apparently made the most of their reps.

Powers has played in just two games this season and has not recorded a tackle. He is on the depth chart at inside linebacker for the Buckeyes, but is also working on the scout team during bowl prep.

🚨 𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐊 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐏𝐄 𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐑𝐓 🚨

newest member of the regulators, @GabePowers21❗️#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/1sRY9SGdzA
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) December 20, 2022

Powers was a 4-star prospect out of Marysville High School in Marysville, Ohio. He was ranked the No. 8 linebacker overall in the 2022 recruiting class and the No. 5 player in Ohio.

Caleb Burton has yet to see the field for the Buckeyes. He is the final member of OSU’s 4-man receiver class to lose his black stripe.

He signed with Ohio State out of Lake Travis High School in Austin, Texas. He was the No. 21 receiver in the 2022 class and the No. 132 player overall.

🚨𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐊 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐏𝐄 𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐑𝐓 🚨

newest member of zone 6️⃣, @calebburtoniii ❗️#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/0P2b6ZGgjg
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) December 20, 2022

Eighteen members of OSU’s 21-person class have now lost their black stripes. The three who have yet to do so are offensive linemen Tegra Tshabola, George Fitzpatrick, and Avery Henry.

On Monday, Henry revealed on Twitter that he had been diagnosed with bone cancer.

This isn’t the way I wanted to release this, but I know no other way. A couple days ago I was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer. I will fight this! I have never been a statistic and I never will! I want to thank my brothers and coaches for the endless support!
— King_Henry2.0 (@AveryHenry731) December 19, 2022

Henry signed with Ohio State out of St. Clairsville High School in St. Clairsville, Ohio. Since his announcement, there has obviously been an outpouring of support for him on social media. Everyone here at Buckeye Huddle would like to echo those same thoughts for Avery during this time. If there are other ways for people to help, we will pass that along as well.

Black Stripes Lost

SAF Tanner McCalister (transfer) – March 28
SAF Kye Stokes – April 8
DE Caden Curry – April 11
LB Chip Trayanum – (transfer) August 9
CB Jyaire Brown – August 9
LB CJ Hicks – August 13
TE Zak Herbstreit (second-year walk-on) – August 17
WR Kaleb Brown – August 17
WR Kyion Grayes – August 20
RB Dallan Hayden – August 20
WR Joop Mitchell (second-year walk-on) – August 20
DE Kenyatta Jackson – August 20
SAF Sonny Styles – August 30
RB TC Caffey (freshman walk-on) – September 14
WR Kojo Antwi – September 14
QB Mason Maggs (freshman walk-on) – September 14
CB Ryan Turner – September 21
DT Hero Kanu – September 21
K Jayden Fielding (freshman walk-on) – October 5
QB Devin Brown – October 5
LS Mason Arnold (second-year walk-on) – November 3
OL Jack Forsman (second-year walk-on) – November 3
DE Omari Abor – December 7
OL Carson Hinzman – December 14
TE Bennett Christian – December 17
LB Gabe Powers – December 19
WR Caleb Burton – December 19