Another Buckeye became an “official” member of the team on Thursday night when true freshman tight end Max LeBlanc lost his black stripe after the Buckeyes’ final practice of their off week.
LeBlanc, a Saint-Bruno, Quebec, native, entered the program in June as a four-star prospect out of Chattanooga (Tenn.) Baylor School, where he was the nation’s 258th-best prospect and No. 14 tight end in the 2024 class.
He flashed his pass-catching skills during his two years at Baylor School, hauling in 39 passes for 695 yards as a junior and then another 884 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior to help lead the Red Raiders to a D-11-AA state championship.
LeBlanc has yet to make much of an impact for the Buckeyes as a freshman, appearing in just one game this season with five snaps in Ohio State’s blowout win over Western Michigan on Sept. 7, but he could be in line for more playing time this season with fellow tight end Will Kacmarek expected to miss multiple games with an injury he suffered against Oregon.
LeBlanc is now the 12th freshman to have his black stripe removed, joining, in order, wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (March 21), quarterback Julian Sayin (April 8), safety Jaylen McClain (Aug. 7), defensive end Eddrick Houston (Aug. 9), running back James Peoples (Aug. 9), linebacker Payton Pierce (Aug. 13), offensive lineman Ian Moore (Aug. 15), safety Leroy Roker (Aug. 21), wide receiver Mylan Graham (Aug. 21), cornerback Aaron Scott Jr. (Aug. 27) and quarterback Air Noland (Sept. 25).
11 members of Ohio State’s 2024 class still have yet to earn the distinction, including offensive linemen Deontae and Devontae Armstrong and Gabe VanSickle, running back Sam Williams-Dixon, defensive linemen Dominic Kirks and Eric Mensah, cornerbacks Miles Lockhart and Bryce West, punter Nick McLarty, linebacker Garrett Stover and wide receiver Damaron Witten.
LeBlanc is also the fourth player to lose their black stripe since the 2024 season started, joining graduate linebacker Joey Valzquez (Sept. 4), senior kicker Austin Snyder (Sept. 24) and Noland.
