Ohio State DE Beau Atkinson sheds black stripe

COLUMBUS — Ohio State brought defensive end Beau Atkinson in as a transfer from North Carolina to make an impact on the reloaded defensive line.

He’s taking the proper steps toward becoming a breakout candidate this fall for the Buckeyes. Atkinson shed his black stripe after practice Wednesday, becoming the latest transfer addition to lose the black stripe.

Running back CJ Donaldson and tight end Max Klare previously lost theirs in August camp.

Flip on the tape from Beau Atkinson’s time at North Carolina, and it’s easy to see why he was one of the most coveted defensive linemen in the transfer portal for the spring cycle. Atkinson played in every game for the Tar Heels last season, totaling 24 tackles and seven sacks.

Across 13 games last season at North Carolina, Atkinson posted a 77.0 defensive grade on ProFootball Focus. He had a 74.3 run-defense grade and a 61.4 pass-rush grade. His high water mark against ACC competition was his 82.2 defense grade against Florida State, a game in which he also posted a 71.4 run-defense grade and a 79.2 pass-rush grade.

Now he’s part of an Ohio State defensive end group that features leaders Kenyatta Jackson and Caden Curry, as well as edge rusher C.J. Hicks and Idaho State transfer Logan George. Like Jackson and Curry, Atkinson has experience playing defensive end at a high level. Of course, Hicks is a converted linebacker who is hoping to use his athleticism to become a dominant speed rusher off the edge for this defense.

That group must replace the production lost when J.T. Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer both left for the NFL after winning the national title.

Atkinson figures to be a big part of the reload at defensive end, and he took a major step toward doing that on Wednesday. His black stripe is officially off.