Zach Harrison Latest Buckeye Freshman To Lose Black Stripe

Ohio State freshman defensive end Zach Harrison had his black stripe removed following practice on Friday, signifying his full-fledged addition to the Buckeye football team.

One week ago during practice, Harrison had three sacks while scrimmaging, showing both speed and power on his way to the quarterback. He was also working with the ones in the Rushmen package.

Harrison, who enrolled early back in January, has impressed his coaches every step of the way, and it began with winter workouts.

“Zach Harrison, going through the recruiting process, I know there’s a lot on his plate,” head coach Ryan Day said back in February. “He’s come here and blossomed. Had an unbelievable day today. He’s been killing it in the weight room.”

Co-defensive coordinator Greg Mattison recruited Harrison while at Michigan, and getting a chance to see him this winter during workouts was an eye-opening experience for the assistant coach.

“Zach Harrison is, number one, great character. That’s the first thing,” Mattison said. “Number two, he’s an unbelievable athlete. To be that big and that strong and everything like that. And then watching, like we had mat drills today and just watching him in the weight room. He’s everything you thought when you recruited him. I mean, he’s a special athlete.”

Harrison was one of the top players in the 2019 class, but was torn between Michigan, Penn State, and Ohio State through the recruiting process. Eventually, the Central Ohio native decided to stay home, and things are clearly working out, as you can see in the video below.

Harrison is now the second member of the 2019 class to have his stripe removed, joining receiver Garrett Wilson.

Wilson and Harrison also happened to be the two highest-ranked members of Ohio State’s recruiting class.

?⬛️ The final black stripe of the spring‼️ Welcome to the #Rushmen @zacharrison_#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/qahpUbszqM
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) April 12, 2019