Freshman safety Jaylen McClain was the first player to shed his black stripe during fall camp, becoming an “official” member of the team on Wednesday.
He’s the third freshman to lose his black stripe this year, joining wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and quarterback Julian Sayin, two players who garnered all kinds of attention when they shed theirs during spring ball.
The safety room for Ohio State is very strong this season after the addition of Caleb Downs and the return of Lathan Ransom, and McClain is proving that the future is bright for the room as well.
McClain has been an early standout in fall camp, bringing in an interception in one of the first practices which were open to the media, and he also had a good spring game, intercepting a pass from Sayin in Ohio Stadium.
Right now it seems that McClain could work his way into a backup spot as a safety this season behind Ransom and Downs.
McClain came to Ohio State as the No. 373 overall player in the country and the No. 36 safety in the 2024 class according to 247Sports composite ranking.
