Following Ohio State football practice Thursday morning, freshman quarterback Kyle McCord became the latest Buckeye to have his black stripe removed.
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) August 12, 2021
𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗽𝗲 𝗔𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘁 @kylemccord16 is officially a member of the Brotherhood #GoBuckeyes pic.twitter.com/rjMmzPld78
McCord is now the seventh member of the 2021 recruiting class to lose his black stripe. The removal of the black stripe from a player’s helmet signifies that said player has played well enough in practice to now be deemed a full-fledged member of the Ohio State football team.
A Philadelphia native, McCord played his high school ball at St. Joseph’s and was a five-star prospect in the 2021 recruiting class. He was ranked the No. 6 quarterback in the nation and the No. 28 player overall.
If the spring and summer have been any indication, McCord is more than living up to his billing as he continues to compete for the Buckeyes’ starting quarterback job.
“He’s coming in as a younger kid and just kind of growing and learning, but Kyle’s done an awesome job,” quarterbacks coach Corey Dennis said this month. “What I appreciate about Kyle is everything that he’s asked, he does. He is a constant grinder.”
McCord enrolled back in January and has worked hard since his arrival to exhibit leadership and show that he belongs. Reports have been glowing to this point, thanks in large part to the freshman’s approach.
“I’m just trying to get better every single day and focus on myself and whatever happens, happens,” McCord said at the start of fall camp. “I’m just trying to put the best version of myself out there on the field and not get too caught up in the competition. I think we definitely push each other but I wouldn’t say I wake up every day and I’m like, ‘Oh, I gotta win this job. I’ve gotta win this job.’ I wouldn’t say there’s pressure on me like that. I think the biggest thing for me is that if I just continue to develop and continue to stay at the pace that I’m at, I’ll be in a good position however it works out.”
Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day has indicated that he would like to know who his starting quarterback is after the first two weeks of practice. Friday is another practice day and Saturday is the first scrimmage of camp. The scrimmage will wrap up the first two weeks of camp, so it’s going to be a big one for everybody.
Ohio State Black Stripe Leaderboard
DL Jacolbe Cowan (redshirt freshman) – April 2
WR Marvin Harrison – April 6
DE Jack Sawyer – April 6
RB TreVeyon Henderson – April 10
WR Emeka Egbuka – April 13
LB Reid Carrico – April 13
CB Denzel Burke – August 7
QB Kyle McCord – August 12