Freshman Offensive Tackle Luke Montgomery Sheds Black Stripe

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.

🚨 𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗽𝗲 𝗔𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘁 🚨

Newest member of the O-Line, welcome to the brotherhood, @lukeMonty8 📌 pic.twitter.com/G3FkXKw2zQ
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) August 12, 2023

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.

“He’s in the competition,” Day said at Big Ten Media Days last month. “And 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.”

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) – 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