Two Buckeyes Shed Black Stripes

Redshirt freshman punter Nick McLarty and freshman running back Bo Jackson were the latest Buckeyes to become “official members” of the team on Thursday, when they shed their black stripes.

McLarty, a 6-7, 255-pound punter, earns the honor in his second season with the program. McLarty, who went viral on Twitter last year after he kicked a ball 90 yards over a stadium, was thought to be a strong candidate to win the Buckeyes’ starting punter spot in 2024, but he ultimately lost the job to junior Joe McGuire. In the limited playing time he received, McLarty had a 35-yard punt in Ohio State’s 56-0 win over Western Michigan on Sept. 7 and a 30-yard punt in the Buckeyes’ 49-14 win over Marshall two weeks later. The removal of McLarty’s black stripe may be proof that he’s once again competing to be the team’s starting punter.

Jackson, one of three freshmen running backs on Ohio State’s roster, was ranked the No. 161 player, No. 10 running back and No. 6 player from the state of Ohio out of high school.

Jackson, a Cleveland native, could receive playing time this year, but for now seems to be behind others in the depth chart, like sophomore James Peoples and senior CJ Donaldson Jr.

_{Photo courtesy of @OhioStateFB on Twitter}