If it’s spring practice at Ohio State, it also means it’s the season to shed black stripes. If you are an avid OSU fan, you know what that means, but in case you don’t, the black strip tradition was brought to Columbus by former head coach Urban Meyer. Basically, when a newcomer to the team (whether freshman or transfer) embodies what it means to be a part of the OSU culture and brotherhood, he has a black stripe that covers the scarlet stripe down the middle of the helmet removed in a short ceremony.
When this happens, it’s a pretty big deal, and it is shared on social media by the Ohio State creative team. Many times, the guys who shed their black stripes early end up being a big part of things down the road, and we just got our first two players to receive the honor on Saturday.
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Two transfers, former LSU wide receiver Kyle Parker, and Florida State transfer safety Earl Little Jr., both had their black stripes removed on Friday after the fifth spring practice of the year.
Little came to Ohio State after two years at Alabama and another two at Florida State. He is an All-ACC performer who tallied 93 tackles — three for a loss — one sack, and had one interception last season. He is expected to man the nickel position this fall.
Parker should compete for a starting spot at the Ohio State receiver position, and at the least, will most likely be a part of the main rotation, especially because of his skill set and relationship with new wide receivers coach Cortez Hankton. He recorded 31 catches for 330 yards and four touchdowns last season in Baton Rouge.
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We’ll continue to bring you all of the black stripes that get discarded through the spring and beyond during the offseason, so be sure to check back to see which players are separating themselves.
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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Two Ohio State football players become first to shed black stripes
