Two Buckeyes Offensive Linemen Shed Black Stripe
The Ohio State Buckeyes are currently in the midst of some position battles on the offensive line, and two players right in the thick of the conversations lost their Black Stripe Thursday.
Transfers center Victor Cutler Jr. and tackle Jimmy Simmons, who were at Louisiana-Monroe and San Diego State, respectively, both shed their Black Stripes, indicating they both officially earned their spots as Buckeyes.
Ohio State has some gaping holes that need to be patched in both tackle positions after Paris Johnson Jr. and Dawand Jones' NFL departures, and Simmons is in contention for a spot, but where at still remains to be seen.
Head coach Ryan Day said Wednesday that Simmons, Josh Fryar, Tegra Tshabola and Luke Montgomery are all switching back and forth between right and left tackle to find which player fits which position.
"For the most part, all four of these guys are pretty athletic," Day said. "They're not really too right-handed or left-handed so they can handle it a little bit better."
As for Cutler, he knows he's battling Carson Hinzman for the starting center job, a competition that Day said has "heated up."
The offensive line pair could be in the starting lineup come Sept. 2 against Indiana, but for now, they hold the title of the first players to lose their Black Stripe in fall camp.
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