Two more players lost their black stripes Wednesday, Ohio State announced after practice at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, bringing the team’s count of freshmen to 15 with linebacker K’Vaughan Pope and cornerback Cameron Brown as the latest rookies to officially join the Buckeyes.
As game-week preparations for Ohio State continue in advance of its season opener Saturday against Oregon State, a noon kickoff on ABC from Ohio Stadium, Pope and Brown were recognized on the outdoor turf fields when the Buckeyes completed another day of practice.
Director of player development Ryan Stamper first named Pope, who received a seal of approval from linebackers coach Billy Davis to have done enough in getting the black stripe removed.
“First guy been busting his butt, finally got a thumbs up from his coach,” Stamper said. “K’Vaughan Pope, get up here.”
Pope (6-1, 226) acknowledged Davis, Stamper and the linebackers — a position group loaded with juniors and sophomores, including one of the team’s seven captains in Tuf Borland.
“I appreciate y’all boys,” Pope said. “I mean, I love y’all boys. Thank you for bringing me in. Shout out LBU, Coach Davis, Coach Stamp. You already know. Go Bucks.”
⬛️???? Congrats to @ThePope81 on getting that black stripe off‼️ Welcome to #LBU‼️
#GoBucks #WinTheMoment pic.twitter.com/2TSe47qNxZ
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) August 30, 2018
Stamper next named Brown, who still has room for improvement.
“Second guy got a long way to go,” Stamper said. “But he’s hungry and getting better, man, hungry. Cameron Brown, get up here.”
Brown (6-0, 185), a converted wide receiver, thanked his new position group and several Ohio State coaches.
“Appreciate y’all boys,” Brown said. “Shout out to my unit. Shout out to my coaches — Ryan, V, Coach Taver (Johnson). Go Bucks.”
⬛️???? That's a #BIABlackStripe for @luh_cam_ ! Welcome to the #DBU family ‼️#GoBucks #WinTheMoment pic.twitter.com/lhgLbGgrV5
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) August 30, 2018
Pope and Brown join defensive end Tyler Friday, cornerback Sevyn Banks, defensive end Javontae Jean-Baptiste, cornerback Tyreke Johnson, tight end Jeremy Ruckert, running back Master Teague, defensive end Tyreke Smith, wide receiver Chris Olave, running back Brian Snead, defensive tackle Taron Vincent, linebacker Teradja Mitchell, linebacker Dallas Gant and defensive tackle Tommy Togiai among the others from the Buckeyes’ 2018 recruiting class.
