Ohio State offensive lineman Victor Cutler Jr., who transferred to the Buckeyes from Louisiana-Monroe this offseason, became an official member of the team on Thursday as he shed his black stripe, the first Buckeye to do so since fall camp began.
Cutler has been on campus since the spring, battling it out for the open center job on the offensive line. Head coach Ryan Day said Wednesday that the competition between Cutler and redshirt freshman Carson Hinzman has “heated up,” with the pair separating themselves as they duke it out.
โI think heโs changed his body,โ Day said of Cutler. โI think he understands what weโre trying to do now and the resources we have here. Heโs a different-looking body than he was in the spring.โ
While Cutler is the first Buckeye to lose his black stripe during fall camp, he’s the 10th to do so since last season ended. That list includes offensive linemen George Fitzpatrick and Tegra Tshabola (both on March 23); cornerback Davison Igbinosun and wide receiver Carnell Tate (both on March 25); offensive lineman Quinton Burke and quarterback Tristan Gebbia (both on April 1); and running back Chase Brecht, safety Malik Hartford and tight end Jelani Thurman (all on April 7).
