After transferring to Ohio State from SMU this offseason, Corey Rau is now “officially” a Buckeye.
The walk-on tight end became one of the latest two players, along with freshman linebacker Cody Simon, to have his black stripe removed Tuesday.
Black Stripe Alert
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) October 20, 2020
Transferred in and fit right in! Thanks for all you do for the Buckeyes, Corey!#GoBuckeyes pic.twitter.com/6N41vuSQr4
“I just want to say thank you to my teammates and the coaches here for welcoming me in with open arms,” Rau said. “Blessed to be a Buckeye.”
A three-star recruit out of high school, Rau was a scholarship player for four years at SMU before graduate transferring to Ohio State as a walk-on this summer. Ohio State director of player development Ryan Stamper said when removing his black stripe that Rau “does anything we ask him to do.”
He joins fellow transfer Trey Sermon and 16 of Ohio State's 25 new freshmen as Buckeyes who have shed their black stripes this preseason.
| Player | Pos | Date |
|---|---|---|
| TREY SERMON | RB | SEPT. 16 |
| JAXON SMITH-NJIGBA | WR | SEPT. 21 |
| KOURT WILLIAMS | S | SEPT. 21 |
| GEE SCOTT JR. | WR | SEPT. 23 |
| TY HAMILTON | DE | SEPT. 26 |
| JULIAN FLEMING | WR | SEPT. 26 |
| MIYAN WILLIAMS | RB | OCT. 3 |
| JOSH FRYAR | OL | OCT. 3 |
| LATHAN RANSOM | S | OCT. 3 |
| CAMERON MARTINEZ | CB | OCT. 7 |
| PARIS JOHNSON JR. | OT | OCT. 7 |
| MOOKIE COOPER | WR | OCT. 13 |
| MITCHELL MELTON | LB | OCT. 13 |
| LUKE WYPLER | C | OCT. 14 |
| RYAN WATTS | CB | OCT. 19 |
| JACOB JAMES | OL | OCT. 19 |
| CODY SIMON | LB | OCT. 20 |
| COREY RAU | TE | OCT. 20 |
