Ohio State Wide Receiver Jayden Ballard Loses Black Stripe

All three wide receivers from the Buckeyes’ 2021 recruiting class have had their black stripes removed.

Author:
Andrew Lind
Publish date:
Sep 7, 2021 9:00 PM EDT

Wide receiver Jayden Ballard became the 14th member of Ohio State’s 2021 recruiting class to have his black striped removed, doing so following Tuesday evening’s practice at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.

“I just want to thank all of y’all for pushing me every day, and I appreciate all of y’all,” Ballard said as redshirt junior wide receiver Xavier Johnson removed the stripe from his helmet. “I want to shoutout Zone 6. Go Bucks!”

The 6-foot-2 and 195-pound Ballard hails from Massillon (Ohio) Washington, where he was considered the 15th-best wide receiver and No. 99 prospect overall in his class. He enrolled in classes in January alongside fellow wide receivers Emeka Egbuka and Marvin Harrison Jr., who both shed their stripes during spring practice.

“Since they first got here, you can always see them on the off days and throughout the summer in the indoor (facility) getting some extra work,” redshirt freshman cornerback Ryan Watts during his media availability on Aug. 6. “They're some young guys, they're hungry and they work hard. All of them, they all come together every day – like, really every day – and get that extra work.”

The other freshman who have lost their stripes since arriving on campus include quarterback Kyle McCord; running backs TreVeyon Henderson and Evan Pryor; offensive lineman Donovan Jackson; defensive ends Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau; linebacker Reid Carrico; cornerbacks Denzel Burke and Jordan Hancock; safety Jantzen Dunn; and punter Jesse Mirco.