Ohio State Freshman Linebacker C.J. Hicks Loses Black Stripe

Freshman linebacker C.J. Hicks had his black stripe removed after Ohio State’s scrimmage on Saturday, making him the fourth member of the freshman class to shed his black stripe this year.

@imcjhicks is officially a Buckeye #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/icwOfXrNMO

— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) August 14, 2022

Hicks follows safety Kye Stokes, defensive end Caden Curry and cornerback Jyaire Brown as the freshmen who have had their black stripes removed so far. Transfer safety Tanner McCalister and linebacker Chip Trayanum have also lost their black stripes.

A five-star recruit ranked as the No. 7 overall player in the 2022 cycle, Hicks has made an early impression on his new coaches in his first year as a Buckeye.

“His upside is fantastic,” Ohio State defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Jim Knowles said this week. “He really has a great quickness and athleticism that you don't see out of many linebackers at that size. So it's just a matter of how quickly can he learn, get himself up to speed so that he can use those tools. Sometimes when you're thinking too much, you can't use your tools, right? So we’ll just keep working with C.J. so that he gets it down so he can really cut it loose, but I think his upside is gonna be amazing.”

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Hicks does not currently appear likely to see a lot of playing time at the beginning of his freshman year, as Steele Chambers and Tommy Eichenberg are “solidifying” themselves as Ohio State’s top linebackers according to Knowles while Chip Trayanum and Teradja Mitchell took most of the second-team reps behind at Thursday’s open practice. Hicks is likely to start his career as Ohio State’s third- or fourth-team Will linebacker behind Chambers, Trayanaum and possibly Palaie Gaoteote.

Losing his black stripe on Saturday, though, is an indicator that Hicks is getting closer to being ready to contribute on Ohio State’s defense as a true freshman, while he’s also a likely candidate for immediate playing time on special teams.

He continues a streak of black stripe removals for Ohio State’s defense, as all six newcomers to shed their black stripes so far this year are on the defensive side of the ball.