Buckeyes defensive tackle Jarquez Carter loses black stripe

COLUMBUS — Ohio State defensive tackle Jarquez Carter continues to shine in his first year with the Buckeyes.

Following the Buckeyes latest practice, Carter took a huge step toward that hard work paying off with playing time. He had his black stripe removed by the program, a mark that he’s doing everything the program expects from its best players.

Carter joined the Ohio State program in January and went to work proving himself for an early breakout. The former four-star prospect from Newberry, Florida, was the No. 213 overall player in the 2025 recruiting class. He was ranked as the No. 22 defensive lineman in the country and No. 31 player in the state of Florida.

But he quickly established himself as a candidate for playing time early in his career. Teammates have raved about Carter so far.

“He’s very hungry,” said sophomore defensive tackle Eddrick Houston, who found time on then field as a true freshman last year and knows what that takes. “Whatever he needs in order to help him out, if he needs, he’ll ask me, On this play, what would you do? And I’ll tell him, and then he’ll come back and he’ll do it. Just being able to be coachable and take that coaching to the field. That’s why I love all the freshmen coming in.”

Now as Ohio State prepares to host Ohio this week, Carter could have a role along the defensive interior that will be led by Houston and nose tackle Kayden McDonald.

Carter is the latest Ohio State freshman to lose his black stripe.