Ohio State Sophomore Punter Joe McGuire Becomes Latest Buckeye To Lose Black Stripe

Ohio State sophomore punter Joe McGuire is the latest Buckeye to become an “official” member of the team, shedding his black stripe after practice on Wednesday night. 

McGuire, who hails from Melbourne, Australia, earns the distinction in his second season with the program. Since walking on to the team in the fall of 2023 he has yet to appear in a game for the Buckeyes, as now Vanderbilt Commodore Jesse Mirco served as the starting punter last season. 

That may be the case again this year with head coach Ryan Day announcing last week that true freshman and fellow Aussie Nick McLarty will handle punting duties for Ohio State during its season opener Saturday against Akron, potentially leaving McGuire as the third-string punter behind McLarty and Buffalo transfer Anthony Venneri.

Still, McGuire — who hails from the Australian punting program ProKick Australia and is the son of famous Australian rules footballer Eddie McGuire — impressed the staff enough for him to earn the special distinction at Ohio State, becoming the 19th Buckeye to shed his black stripe this offseason as well as the first specialist.