Pair Of Ohio State Linemen Lose Black Stripes

Following morning practice on Thursday, Ohio State redshirt freshman offensive linemen Tegra Tshabola and George Fitzpatrick had their black stripes removed.

The removal of the stripe indicates that a player has done enough in practice or workouts or in games to be considered a full-fledged Buckeye.

Last year, Tshabola played left guard, but is now in a battle for the starting spot at right tackle. For him, losing the stripe was the result of hard work.

“It was big,” he said after practice. “I mean, it was a long time coming and things happened last year, but it’s a good feeling to have it off.”

🚨 𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐊 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐏𝐄 𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐑𝐓 🚨

newest member of the OLine, @tshabola_tegra❗️#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/x3eeAyZr8d
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) March 24, 2023

Fitzpatrick is currently working as the backup left tackle to potential starter Josh Fryar.

“Georgie’s doing a good job too behind [Fryar],” offensive line coach Justin Frye said on Thursday. “George has just now been here a year. So, I mean, George Fitzpatrick, last year if you asked him about it, he didn’t know which shoe was right and left and how to tie them. And now he’s 298, 302 pounds. He got his black stripe off today. He’s playing better just because he’s another year [more] mature and bigger and stronger.”

Tshabola and Fitzpatrick were two of the last three members of Ohio State’s 2022 signing class to have their black stripes removed. The third is offensive lineman Avery Henry who announced last December that he was diagnosed with a form of bone cancer. Henry is obviously focused on his health and not currently participating in day-to-day football activities.