Black Stripes coming off fast, Ohio State freshmen impact ahead

The Buckeyes season opener is just 11 days out of frame, but that’s just enough time to introduce the youngsters. After yesterday’s practice, safety Brendon Wright, quarterback Tate Martell and guard Wyatt Davis saw their black stripe removed. They are now officially Buckeyes.

Among the successes the Buckeyes have enjoyed during the head coaching tenure of Urban Meyer, the team’s recruiting victories have been at the forefront. According to 247Sports.com, Ohio State pulled the 7th ranked recruiting class of 2015, 4th ranked class in 2016 and the No. 2 class of 2017.

In fact, since Meyer took over the reigns as head coach at Ohio State in 2012, he has had the top Big Ten recruiting class every year.

Considering the fact that 11 hotly pursued Buckeyes have lost their black stripe which officially makes them a member of the team, they now join an already impressive 2017 roster. However, what those freshmen will bring to the table is the glaring question mark for the outlook this season.

Introducing young talent could be the lethal weapon this season?

The 31-0 loss to Clemson was a dark cloud to the impressive 2016 Buckeyes football season. What looked on paper to be something of a rebuilding year resulted in a trip to the College Football Playoff; aside from the Buckeyes, only Alabama (3) and Clemson (2) have joined the bracket multiple times.

Rebounding from the ugly loss to Clemson should be motivation for Ohio State for the 2017 season, and the Buckeyes will have some new faces in the mix. During the playoff blowout, it didn’t look like the 2016 team had what it took to grab the toughest jewel in college football. Now maybe they will.

Let’s take a look at the players who have had their black stripe removed, and examine their prospects of making an impact this season.

It’s unlikely that Tate Martell will see much playing time, if any, this season. But for the others, playing time is up for grabs.

On August 4th, running back JK Dobbins became the first member of the bunch to lose his stripe. Described as the “all-purpose back”, he’s less in the Mike Weber mold, representing more the Curtis Samuel figure.

What JT Barrett needs more than anything else is weapons; he might have something in Dobbins, but getting additional pass catchers going is the key to the quarterback’s limited arm talent.

Potentially, WR Jaylen Harris and WR Elijah Gardiner find themselves receiving a stripe tear-down and a chance to spread the field. However, it seems more likely that older Buckeyes need these snaps.

Replacing defensive faces is more daunting

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Last season, the starting eleven on defense, even rotation pieces, carried the Buckeyes into the playoff.

Among the crowd to lose the stripe, true freshman corner Shaun Wade looks like a clear candidate in replacement of Marshon Lattimore. Wade, ranked the 17th best prospect in the 2017 pool is dimensionally similar to Lattimore, both around 6-feet, 175-lbs.

However, Wade wasn’t even the best corner in the Buckeye class; Jeffrey Okudah was ranked as the 8th overall player and topped his position. Okudah’s back stripe found itself trashed fourth among the pack.

Perhaps the duo of Wade and Okaduh, or even some veterans, seamlessly replace the departed Lattimore and Gareon Conley. Replacing Malik Hooker, you may be asking, is the formula to success or disaster.

On August 9th, safety Isaiah Pryor became the second Buckeye, and the first on defense, to have his black stripe removed. Ranked as the 63rd overall player in the 2017 recruiting class, Pryor is among a cluster vying to replace the 15th overall pick in the NFL Draft, AKA Malik Hooker.

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Pryor was certainly more highly praised out of high school than Hooker, who ranked 352nd in the 2014 recruiting class. Exceeding or matching Hooker’s efforts will be tough, and might be a make-or-break situation for the 2017 defensive unit.

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