2026 Black Stripe Tracker: Wide Receiver Devin McCuin and Defensive Tackle James Smith Are the Latest Newcomers to Lose Their Black Stripes

By 11W Staff on April 4, 2026 at 12:17 pm
James Smith
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There will be no shortage of black stripe removals for Ohio State in 2026.

After adding 51 new players this offseason, nearly half of Ohio State’s players started this spring sporting black stripes on their helmets. Each new Ohio State player will have to prove to the coaching staff through their performance in practice that they are ready to compete at the Ohio State standard, and will have their black stripes removed when the coaches feel they‘ve earned the right to “officially” be a Buckeye.

LSU transfer wide receiver Kyle Parker, who followed new Ohio State wide receivers coach Cortez Hankton to Columbus, and Florida State safety Earl Little Jr. were the first Buckeyes to lose their black stripes in 2026 after Ohio State’s fifth practice of the spring. Wide receiver Brock Boyd was the first freshman to lose his black stripe following Ohio State’s sixth practice of the spring, when linebacker Christian Alliegro lost his black stripe as well.

As more new Buckeyes have their black stripes removed over the course of the spring, we’ll be tracking all of the Buckeyes who earn official Buckeye status below.

Black Stripe Removals

APRIL 4, 2026

James Smith

James Smith became the sixth 2026 transfer to lose his black stripe on Saturday.

Following Ohio State's Student Appreciation Day practice, the Alabama transfer defensive tackle officially became a Buckeye. He joins his former Crimson Tide teammate, Qua Russaw, as the second defensive line transfer to add scarlet to his helmet this spring.

Last month, Smith said he transferred to Ohio State because he wanted "a new start" in his college football career. He said two-time unanimous All-American Caleb Downs sold him on becoming a Buckeye – and that everything Downs said about OSU has been true so far.

“Caleb Downs is like my brother. I talk to him almost every day," Smith said. "He wanted me to come here very bad.”

APRIL 4, 2026

Devin McCuin

Devin McCuin became the fifth 2026 transfer to lose his black stripe on Saturday.

Following Ohio State's Student Appreciation Day practice, the UTSA transfer wide receiver officially became a Buckeye. He joins former LSU pass catcher Kyle Parker as the second WR to add scarlet to his helmet this spring.

McCuin transferred to Ohio State following three years in San Antonio. He comes to the Buckeyes with career totals of 152 receptions, 1,696 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns. He recorded a career-high 65 catches for 726 yards and eight scores in 2025.

“Just a great kid, extremely coachable, wants to be great, but has elite speed,” wide receiver coach Cortez Hankton said last week. “If you watch his tape, when he gets the ball, he is truly exceptional in terms of accelerating after the catch.”

APRIL 2, 2026

Qua Russaw

Qua Russaw became the fourth 2026 transfer to lose his black stripe on Thursday.

The veteran defensive end arrived at Ohio State alongside fellow Alabama transfers James Smith and Cam Calhoun, and he beat both the defensive tackle and cornerback in becoming an “official” Buckeye.

Speaking Tuesday, Ryan Day said Russaw has quickly acclimated to Larry Johnson’s defensive line room as he competes with Zion Grady and Beau Atkinson for the starting spot opposite Kenyatta Jackson Jr. at defensive end.

“I think you're seeing Qua Russaw really make an impact out there. He flashed a few times today, made a couple of sacks on third down,” Day said. “That’s a position where we’re really going to need some production this year.”

MARCH 31, 2026

Christian Alliegro

Christian Alliegro became the third transfer of 2026 to lose his black stripe on Tuesday, Ryan Day said during his press conference.

The Wisconsin transfer linebacker is the frontrunner to start at Will linebacker this season alongside Payton Pierce. He recorded 53 tackles with eight tackles for loss, four sacks and a pass breakup for the Badgers in 2025. 

MARCH 31, 2026

Brock Boyd

Despite being a three-star recruit who was ranked as just the No. 729 overall prospect in the 2026 recruiting class, Brock Boyd became the first freshman to lose his black stripe this spring after just six practices as a Buckeye, Ryan Day revealed during his Tuesday press conference.

Boyd has drawn consistent praise from his coaches and teammates in his first spring at Ohio State and appears to be making a real push for immediate playing time despite his meager recruiting ranking.

“This is somebody who knows how to run a route,” Day said. “He's serious about it. He can play multiple positions. And he's productive. His dad's a receiver coach, and he plays that way. But he's got quick twitch. He can change direction. He's got strong hands. I'm excited to see where his career goes. But he's off to a great start.”

MARCH 28, 2026

Earl Little Jr.

Little Jr. joined Parker in officially becoming a Buckeye on Saturday. The former All-ACC safety arrived in Columbus after two years at Alabama and two years at Florida State. He has recorded 93 tackles with three tackles for loss, one sack, four interceptions and two pass breakups across 35 career games.

Little Jr. is one of two transfers the Buckeyes brought in at safety, along with former Duke defensive back Terry Moore. Little Jr. is expected to play nickel for the Buckeyes, while Moore is projected as a free safety.

MARCH 28, 2026

Kyle Parker

Parker’s status as the first Buckeye to have his black stripe removed this spring was revealed by Ohio State wide receivers coach Cortez Hankton during an interview session after Ohio State’s fifth practice of the spring.

The stripe removal made Hankton think of another former wide receiver at LSU, Kyren Lacy, who died by suicide last April.

“To see KP, who was like a brother to Kyren, taking that black stripe off, man, it was really just fun and heartwarming to watch, because I know that dude would be smiling for him,” Hankton said. “I can see them dancing in the corner and celebrating. And it's days like today that truly lets you take the perspective of being thankful and grateful to be in this position to coach.”

Parker, a redshirt junior, is competing for a starting wide receiver job at Ohio State this spring after catching 31 passes for 330 yards and four touchdowns at LSU in 2025. His achievement of losing his black stripe before any other player this spring suggests his quest to earn that job – or at least a significant spot in the rotation – is off to a great start.

Ohio State’s 2026 Black Stripe Removals
Player Pos Year Date
KYLE PARKER WR REDSHIRT JUNIOR MARCH 28
EARL LITTLE JR. S REDSHIRT SENIOR MARCH 28
BROCK BOYD WR FRESHMAN MARCH 31
CHRISTIAN ALLIEGRO LB SENIOR MARCH 31
QUA RUSSAW DE REDSHIRT JUNIOR APRIL 2
DEVIN MCCUIN WR SENIOR APRIL 4
JAMES SMITH DT SENIOR APRIL 4

Be sure to check out our Black Stripe Tradition page to see the history of Ohio State’s black stripe removals from 2012, when the tradition started, all the way through today.

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