Linebacker Tommy Eichenberg and quarterback J.P. Andrade became the latest freshman to lose their black stripes following practice on Wednesday evening, signaling their status as official members of the Buckeyes’ football program.
🚫▪️ No stripe‼️ @tommyike41 got his black stripe off today‼️#GoBucks #ToughLove pic.twitter.com/1ZsYwPJaH2
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) September 25, 2019
The 6-3 225-pound Eichenberg was a four-star prospect from Cleveland St. Ignatius. He missed most of preseason camp with an undisclosed injury, but saw his first action on the final play of Ohio State’s 76-5 win over Miami (Ohio) on Sept. 21.
“I want to thank everybody for welcoming me in,” Eichenberg said. “I want to thank the linebacker room, the strength staff, all the trainers — especially (head physical therapist and assistant athletic trainer Adam Stewart). I couldn’t have done it without them.”
🚫▪️STRIPE ALERT‼️ Congratulations @JPAndrade12 on getting your stripe off‼️#GoBucks #ToughLove pic.twitter.com/V1JUtdQfr8
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) September 25, 2019
The 6-3, 205-pound Andrade, meanwhile, picked a preferred walk-on opportunity at Ohio State over scholarship offers from South Alabama, Fordham and Morehead State and a preferred walk-on offer from Florida. He’s yet to see any playing time for the Buckeyes, but recently drew praise from quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator Mike Yurcich for his effort on scout team this fall.
“I just want to thank God for this opportunity,” Andrade said. “I want to thank you guys for welcoming me in. Thank the quarterback unit, coach Yurchich, (quality control coach) Corey (Dennis), coach (Ryan) Day, the rest of the quarterbacks. Go Bucks.”
A full list of newcomers who have shed their black stripes is below:
| NAME | POSITION | YEAR | DATE OF BLACK STRIPE REMOVAL |
|---|---|---|---|
| LOGAN HITTLE | LB | JR* | 3/21 |
| CADE KACHERSKI | LB | FR* | 3/21 |
| BEN SCHMIESING | LB | FR | 3/21 |
| JUSTIN FIELDS | QB | SO | 3/ 25 |
| DARRYL SINCLAIR | CB | SO* | 3/25 |
| MAX WRAY | OL | FR* | 4/1 |
| RYAN BATSCH | SAF | FR* | 4/1 |
| GARRETT WILSON | WR | FR | 4/8 |
| AUSTIN KUTSCHER | WR | FR* | 4/8 |
| ZACH HARRISON | DE | FR | 4/12 |
| JONAH JACKSON | OL | SR* | 8/6 |
| HARRY MILLER | C | FR | 8/8 |
| JAMESON WILLIAMS | WR | FR | 8/8 |
| RYAN JACOBY | OL | FR | 8/12 |
| MARCUS CROWLEY | RB | FR | 8/12 |
| CADE STOVER | LB | FR | 8/13 |
| BRYSON SHAW | SAF | FR | 8/15 |
| NOAH POTTER | DE | FR | 8/15 |
| STEELE CHAMBERS | RB | FR | 8/15 |
| CRAIG YOUNG | LB | FR | 8/19 |
| DANNY VANATSKY | QB | FR* | 8/19 |
| ZAID HAMDAN | DT | FR* | 8/24 |
| DAWAND JONES | OT | FR | 9/4 |
| ENOKK VIMAHI | OG | FR | 9/4 |
| CHRIS BOOKER | WR | JR | 9/11 |
| TOMMY EICHENBERG | LB | FR | 9/25 |
| J.P. ANDRADE | QB | FR | 9/25 |
*Redshirt
