Another highly-ranked member of Ohio State’s elite 2018 recruiting class has now officially become a member of the program.
Tuesday evening at practice, freshman center Matthew Jones lost his black stripe.
Jones is from Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn, the same program that produced former OSU star Curtis Samual and current Buckeye safety Jahsen Wint.
Jones was ranked as a 4-star prospect coming out of high school, and the No. 1 center prospect in the nation.
He has yet to appear in a game this season for the Buckeyes, but losing his black stripe is a good sign that he may be getting closer to seeing the field.
In the video released by OSU, director of Player Personnel Ryan Stamper says Jones has had a couple great weeks of practice recently, and singles him out for running the offensive line for the scout team.
?◼️ Congrats @GrindTime55 ‼️ Get that black stripe off!#GoBucks #WinTheMoment pic.twitter.com/1Q3l89Jw6U
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) September 25, 2018
There are now seven members of the 2018 recruiting class still holding onto their black stripes.
They are QB Matthew Baldwin*, WR Kamryn Babb (inj.), SAF Marcus Hooker, DT Antwuan Jackson*, WR Blue Smith, DE Alex Williams, and OT Max Wray*.
* signifies early enrollee
Black Stripe Chart
March 30 – DL Aaron Cox (walk-on)
March 30 – WR De’Shawn White (walk-on)
April 11 – DT Tommy Togiai
August 8 – LB Dallas Gant
August 9 – TE Tate Duarte (walk-on)
August 9 – LB Teradja Mitchell
August 11 – RB Brian Snead
August 11 – QB Kory Curtis (walk-on)
August 11 – DT Taron Vincent
August 13 – WR Chris Olave
August 15 – RB Amari McMahon (walk-on)
August 18 – DE Tyreke Smith
August 18 – RB Master Teague
August 18 – TE Jeremy Ruckert
August 20 – CB Tyreke Johnson
August 27 – DE Tyler Friday
August 27 – CB Sevyn Banks
August 27 – DE Javontae Jean-Baptiste
August 29 – LB K’Vaughan Pope
August 29 – CB Cameron Brown
September 5 – S Josh Proctor
September 5 – WR Jaelen Gill
September 5 – WR Sam Wiglusz
September 18 – OL Nicholas Petit-Frere
September 18 – OL Jack Jamieson (walk-on)
September 25 – OL Matthew Jones
