Freshman anxious to lose stripes
Lineman is first of newcrop to pass Meyer’s muster.
Urban Meyer COLUMBUS— brought the black stripe tradition, which he first created at Bowling Green in 2001, to Ohio State when he was hired in 2012.
Freshmen start practice with a thin strip of black tape down the middle of their helmets. They’re not official Buckeyes in Meyer’s eyes until they impress the coaches enough to have the stripe removed.
These days Meyer announces on Twitter when a freshman loses the stripe. He did so Thursday when Isaiah Prince, a 6-foot-7, 305-pound offensive lineman from Greenbelt, Md., became the first freshman this season to lose the stripe.
“I didn’t find out until the team meeting,” said Prince on Sunday during Ohio State media day at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. “I walked into the locker room, and my helmet was gone. It was a good feeling. It’s great to be honored as a Buckeye finally. I’ve just got to continue to work harder and get better.”
Running back Mike Weber lost his stripe Saturday after a team scrimmage.
Position change: Torrance Gibson has yet to shed his stripe, but for now, he has shed his old position: quarterback. Ohio State’s top-rated recruit is practicing at wide receiver.
Knowing he would have little chance to play this season at quarterback, Gibson approached Meyer about making the switch and did so last week.
“I told him I want to get on the field,” Gibson said. “I feel if I sat on the bench, I wouldn’t be helping this team. I would be selfish. That’s not the type of guy I am.”
Suspended players: None of the four players — defensive end Joey Bosa, wide receiver Corey Smith and hybrid backs Jalin Marshall and Dontre Wilson — suspended for the season opener Sept. 7 at Virginia Tech attended media day.
Injury news: Wilson aggravated his broken foot, Meyer said, and might return to practice
Monday or Tuesday. Linebacker Marshon Lattimore injured his hamstring but might return this week.
New starter: The Buckeyes lost kickoff specialist Kyle Clinton after last season. Senior Jack Willoughby, a graduate transfer from Duke, will handle kickoff duties this season, Meyer said Sunday.
He’s also competing with sophomore Sean Nuernberger for the placekicking job.