The Buckeyes were on the practice field Saturday morning for their first scrimmage of fall camp, and following the action, freshman offensive lineman Luke Montgomery had his black stripe removed.
Every new Buckeye has a black stripe placed down their helmet when they arrive. They can get it removed by playing hard, playing well, and doing everything required to earn the trust of coaches and teammates. The removal of the stripe is a ceremonial welcome to officially being a Buckeye.
Montgomery was one of four freshman offensive linemen who enrolled early this year and participated in spring ball. When fall camp began, Montgomery was working with the second team at both left and right tackle. Head coach Ryan Day has continued to single Montgomery out this month, even indicating he’s in a battle for a starting position.
โHe’s in the competition,โ Day said at Big Ten Media Days last month. โAnd I told him the other day, I said, ‘I know you’re a true freshman, but you came here to play. So that should be your mentality.’ Now, whether you play in the first game or not, I don’t know. Maybe you don’t play this year. But I see things in him. We see things in him that are very encouraging. And I think everything you invest in Luke you’re gonna get back. He has all the traits that you look for in a really good offensive lineman. Maybe it’s game three, maybe it’s game four, I don’t know when it’s gonna be. But he’s got a huge upside as well.โ
Montgomery is now the fourth member of Ohio State’s 2023 recruiting class to lose his black stripe. He joins wide receiver Carnell Tate, tight end Jelani Thurman, and safety Malik Hartford. All four players took part in spring ball for the Buckeyes.
Black Stripe Tracker
OT Tegra Tshabola (redshirt freshman) โย March 23
OT George Fitzpatrick (redshirt freshman) โย March 23
CB Davison Igbinosun (sophomore transfer) โย March 25
WR Carnell Tate โย March 25
QB Tristan Gebbia (graduate) โย April 1
OL Quinton Burke (senior walk-on) โย April 1
TE Jelani Thurman โย April 7
S Malik Hartford โย April 7
RB Chase Brecht (sophomore walk-on) โย April 7
QB Chad Ray (senior walk-on) โย April 12
OL Vic Cutler (graduate) โย August 10
OL Jimmy Simmons (redshirt sophomore) โย August 10
OL Luke Montgomery – August 12
Freshmen Still Waiting
QB Lincoln Kienholz | WR Noah Rogers | WR Bryson Rodgers | WR Brandon Inniss | OT Miles Walker | OG Austin Siereveld | OC Josh Padilla | DE Joshua Mickens | DL Jason Moore | DT Will Smith, Jr. | DT Kayden McDonald | LB Arvell Reese | CB Jermaine Mathews, Jr. | CB Calvin Simpson-Hunt | SAF Cedrick Hawkins | SAF Jayden Bonsu
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