The Opening Drive 4/6: More Black Stripes Get Removed

Zone 6 and the Rushmen Gain Official Members

Apr 06, 2026

Happy Monday. I hope everyone had a Happy Easter, if you celebrate.

Devin McCuin Officially Joins Zone 6

UTSA transfer Wide Receiver was one of the more scrutinized transfers in this class. McCuin was the first transfer receiver that OSU has taken, and wasn’t necessarily the flashy name that fans tend to be enamored with. However, the tape doesn’t lie. McCuin is good. The 6ft tall speedster has been gaining recognition with every spring practice that is completed, partially because of his ability to stretch the field and take the top off of the defense. On Saturday following the Student Appreciation practice McCuin had his black stripe removed. McCuin is part of an insanely deep wide receiver group that is battling for the third starting spot and to enhance their place in the 2-deep. McCuin, Kyle Parker, Brock Boyd, and Chris Henry Jr. are all looking to join Jeremiah Smith and Brandon Inniss as the starting wide receivers.

James Smith Officially Becomes a Buckeye

For all of the scrutiny that the McCuin transfer garnered, James Smith received the same amount of praise. Smith comes in as the highest ranked member of the transfer portal class. Smith has shown some fire and swagger in spring ball, according to multiple folks that have attended practice sessions including Coach Slater. Listed at 6’2 and 314, he looks to help lighten the loss of Kayden McDonald to the draft. Smith has gone on record as saying he chose Ohio State for a “ new beginning” and also giving Caleb Downs props for selling him on Ohio State. I envision a scenario where Smith excels at OSU and ends up a first round pick, so losing his black stripe this early doesn’t surprise me.

LATEST PODCASTS:

LATEST ARTICLES:

LATEST FILM ROOM:

Who Will Be Next?

With roughly 50 new Buckeyes on the roster this year, there will be a lot of removals in the last twelve days of spring ball. It seems that the transfer class is checking all of the boxes quicker than the freshman. However, I think the freshman are about to go on a run of stripe removals.

Here are my guesses for the next five freshmen to lose their black stripes:

S Blaine Bradford

CB Jay Timmons

OL Sam Greer

WR Chris Henry Jr.

LB Cincere Johnson

Here are my predictions for the next transfers to lose their stripe:

CB Dominic Kelly

RB Ja’Kobi Jackson

K Connor Hawkins