Black stripe alert! Two redshirt freshmen lost their black stripes this week. Tegra Tshebola and George Fitzpatrick, both offensive linemen, have been welcomed to the brotherhood.
Tshabola was the top-rated lineman in Ohio coming out of Lakota West High School as part of the 2022 class. He saw limited action in his first season as a Buckeye before being redshirted for the remainder of the year.
Fitzpatrick, on the other hand, came from a little farther away. A native of Colorado, Fitzpatrick decided to head east to Columbus. The young man saw time in one game this past season before the decision came to redshirt.
Apparently, Fitzpatrick struggled a little last year according to offensive line coach Justin Frye. “George Fitzpatrick, last year, didn’t know what shoe was left and right and how to tie them,” Frye told reporters. “He got his black stripe off today. He’s playing better, just because he’s another year mature and bigger and stronger.”
Tegra Tshabola, who’s competing with Zen Michalski to start at right tackle, had his black stripe removed this week. pic.twitter.com/o816CVcN7b
— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) March 23, 2023
Both players are battling for positions on the offensive line after the departures of Paris Johnson Jr. and Dawand Jones. Those will be big shoes to fill both literally and figuratively as Johnson and Jones are each expected to be selected in the first few rounds of the NFL draft.
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