True Freshmen Jayden Bonsu, Miles Walker Lose Black Stripes 

Ohio State officially welcomed two true freshmen into the program on Wednesday night when safety Jayden Bonsu and offensive tackle Miles Walker shed their black stripes. 

Bonsu arrived at Ohio State in June as a four-star prospect out of Hillside (N.J.) St. Peters Prep. He was tabbed as the nation’s 274th-best player and 24th-best safety in the 2023 class along with the No. 4 player in New Jersey. He has yet to appear in a game this season, however, mostly due to more experienced safeties such as Josh Proctor, Lathan Ransom and Sonny Styles assuming the majority of in-game reps. 

Walker has also failed to make an appearance in a game so far this season, where he finds himself behind starting tackles Josh Fryar and Josh Simmons along with backups Zen Michalski and fellow freshman Luke Montgomery on the depth chart. The 6-foot-5, 295-pound freshman arrived at Ohio State in January as a three-star prospect and the nation’s 501th-best player and 33rd-best tackle. He also was ranked the No. 4 player in Connecticut after a stellar senior season at Greenwich (Conn.) Brunswick School, where he was named the NEPSAC Class A 2022 Lineman of the Year. 

Bonsu and Walker are now the 18th and 19th freshmen to lose their stripe this season, and the last since cornerback Calvin Simpson-Hunt did so on Nov. 8. They are also the 33nd and 33rd Buckeyes to be officially welcomed to the team this season.