Buckeyes defensive lineman Dominic Kirks sheds black stripe

COLUMBUS — Ohio State has been hoping to see a leap forward for some of its young defensive linemen. Second-year lineman Dominic Kirks appears to be taking a step toward being a contributor for the Buckeyes.

Kirks shed his black stripe after practice Tuesday, becoming the third Ohio State player to lose his black stripe this spring. He’s joined by second-year defensive back Miles Lockhart and Purdue transfer tight end Max Klare.

For Kirks, it’s a big deal because Ohio State is looking for young depth pieces to emerge on the defensive line. His black stripe removal is a major piece of him getting into that mix.

Ohio State coach Ryan Day spoke about needing defensive line help on Monday.

“We need those guys to step up,” Day said of his interior defensive linemen. “I think there’s certain things that have been good, and there’s certain things that have flashed. But every time we say the word flash, that means it’s probably not consistent enough. The ability’s there. So it’s an area that we have to continue now in the second half of spring to see a push out of that group.”

Ohio State, of course, has top talent on the roster. Eddrick Houston and Kayden McDonald are leading that pack right now. But it’s interior depth from Jason Moore, Will Smith Jr. and Tywone Malone, among others, that must progress if Ohio State is going to avoid needing to add in the April portal window. Kirks applies to that “among others” category during his first spring with the Buckeyes after enrolling last June before the national title run.

The Riverside (Painesville, OH) High School standout was the No. 148 overall player in his recruiting class. He was the No. 13 defensive lineman and the No. 8 player in the state of Ohio in the class of 2024.