Freshman Linebacker Payton Pierce Loses Black Stripe

Ohio State freshman linebacker Payton Pierce lost his black stripe following practice on Tuesday.

Every Ohio State newcomer has a black stripe placed down the middle of their helmets when they arrive. When a player does enough in practice to earn his place on the team, the black stripe is removed, signifying his step forward to now being a full-fledged Buckeye.

Pierce attended Lovejoy High School in Lucas, Texas where he was a finalist for the 2023 High School Butkus Award. He earned an invite to January’s All-American Bowl following a senior season where he finished with 181 tackles and 40 tackles for loss.

Pierce enrolled early but missed spring with an injury. Speaking with reporters this month, OSU linebackers coach James Laurinaitis was asked if the injury had put Pierce behind schedule.

“He’s not behind at all,” Laurinaitis said. “Payton, there’s some certain tweaks to the defense that he hasn’t got a feel for and experience and stuff, but the thing you noticed from day one with Payton is that he was going to come downhill and he’s very natural in the box.

“He has an understanding for blocking schemes and how to fall back on certain gaps. Just a very natural, smart football player, and tough. So he’s a scrapper, not surprised. We knew that when we recruited him coming out of Texas and having a wrestler background, but very smart, instinctual linebacker.”

Pierce is now the fifth member of the 2024 recruiting class to have his black stripe removed.

Black Stripe Tracker

WR Jeremiah Smith – March 21
WR Brennen Schramm (rFr walk-on) – March 21
SAF Caleb Downs – March 26
RB Quinshon Judkins – March 26
QB Will Howard – March 30
OL Seth McLaughlin – March 30
TE Will Kacmarek – April 5
DT Will Smith, Jr. – April 5
QB Julian Sayin – April 8
SAF Jaylen McClain – August 7
DE Eddrick Houston – August 9
RB James Peoples – August 9
LB Payton Pierce – August 13

Freshmen Still Waiting

QB Air Noland | RB Sam Williams-Dixon | WR Mylan Graham* | TE Max LeBlanc* | TE Damarion Witten* | OL Ian Moore | OL Deonte Armstrong | OL Devontae Armstrong | OL Gabe VanSickel* | | DL Dominic Kirks* | DT Eric Mensah | LB Garrett Stover | CB Aaron Scott | CB Bryce West | CB Miles Lockhart | SAF Leroy Roker*

*Enrolled in June

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