Offensive Lineman Joshua Padilla, Receiver Brandon Inniss Latest Buckeye Freshmen To Lose Black Stripes

COLUMBUS — Following Ohio State football practice on Monday, freshman offensive lineman Joshua Padilla and freshman wide receiver Brandon Inniss had their black stripes removed.

Every new Buckeye has a black stripe placed down the middle of his helmet, and it remains there until he performs well enough and consistently enough in practice to have the stripe removed and be seen as a full-fledged Buckeye.

Padilla and Inniss are the ninth and 10th members of Ohio State’s 21-person freshman class to lose their black stripes.

Padilla was an early enrollee and has been playing center since he arrived. A four-star prospect, he was a two-time All-State performer at Wayne High School in Huber Heights, Ohio, and a state runner-up as a heavyweight wrestler.

Inniss came to Ohio State from American Heritage High School in Hollywood, Florida, where he was a five-star receiver in the 2023 recruiting class. As a senior, he set school records with 66 receptions for 1,244 yards, catching 14 touchdown passes.

Inniss didn’t arrive at Ohio State until after spring practice, so fall camp has been his first experience practicing as a Buckeye. It took him just 15 practices to have his black stripe removed. He is now the fourth-and-final OSU freshman receiver to have his black stripe removed. The other three all enrolled early and went through spring practice. Carnell Tate is the only freshman receiver who had his stripe removed in fewer practices than Inniss (5).

Black Stripe Tracker

OT Tegra Tshabola (redshirt freshman) – March 23
OT George Fitzpatrick (redshirt freshman) – March 23
CB Davison Igbinosun (sophomore transfer) – March 25
WR Carnell Tate – March 25
QB Tristan Gebbia (graduate) – April 1
OL Quinton Burke (senior walk-on) – April 1
TE Jelani Thurman – April 7
S Malik Hartford – April 7
RB Chase Brecht (sophomore walk-on) – April 7
QB Chad Ray (senior walk-on) – April 12
OL Vic Cutler (graduate) – August 10
OL Jimmy Simmons (redshirt sophomore) – August 10
OL Luke Montgomery – August 12
DT Tywone Malone (redshirt sophomore transfer) – August 12
WR Bryson Rodgers – August 15
CB Jermaine Mathews, Jr. – August 15
WR David Adolph (redshirt freshman walk-on) – August 16
CB Lorenzo Styles, Jr. (junior transfer) – August 16
WR Noah Rogers – August 19
DT Kayden McDonald – August 19
OC Josh Padilla – August 21
WR Brandon Inniss – August 21

Freshmen Still Waiting

QB Lincoln Kienholz | OT Miles Walker | OG Austin Siereveld | DE Joshua Mickens | DL Jason Moore | DT Will Smith, Jr. | LB Arvell Reese | LB Nigel Glover | CB Calvin Simpson-Hunt | SAF Cedrick Hawkins | SAF Jayden Bonsu

Transfers Still Waiting

SAF Ja’Had Carter | LS John Ferlmann

Go to discussion...