George Fitzpatrick loses black stripe for Ohio State
COLUMBUS — Ohio State sophomore offensive tackle George Fitzpatrick has gained 22 pounds since his first year with the Buckeyes, according to the updated spring roster. What Fitzpatrick has now lost, however, is his black stripe.
The 6-foot-6, 305-pound Fitzpatrick finds himself with an opportunity to compete for a starting tackle spot this offseason after mostly watching his first season in Columbus. Nothing is set in stone at this point of the spring, after all, and Ohio State has to replace both Paris Johnson Jr. and Dawand Jones on the outside.
Fitzpatrick played just nine offensive snaps last season, according to Pro Football Focus. The call came in the fourth quarter of the Buckeyes’ late-season blowout of Indiana.
Even since then, Fitzpatrick has made strides.
“George has just now been here a year,” second-year offensive line coach Justin Frye said. “George Fitzpatrick, last year you ask me about him, and he didn’t know which shoe was right and left and how to tie em. Now, he’s 298-302 pounds. He got his black stripe off today. He’s playing better just because he’s another year mature, bigger and stronger.”
Fitzpatrick, a mid-year enrollee last season, was a four-star recruit — and, according to On3, the No. 13 offensive tackle in the 2022 class — who chose Ohio State over the likes of Oregon, Florida, Michigan and Oklahoma.
George Fitzpatrick latest class of 2022 Buckeyes player to shed black stripe
Quarterback Devin Brown, defensive lineman Hero Kanu, defensive back Ryan Turner, wide receiver Kojo Antwi, wide receiver Kaleb Brown, defensive end Kenyatta Jackson, cornerback Jyaire Brown, linebacker C.J. Hicks, tailback Dallan Hayden and wide receiver Kyion Grayes were all freshmen who shed their stripe during fall camp last year. Safety Sonny Styles, who reclassified from the class of 2023 into the class of 2022, shed his black stripe just before last season began.
Defensive end Caden Curry and safety Kye Stokes lost their black stripes all the way back during spring practice last year.
Offensive lineman Carson Hinzman, defensive end Omari Abor, tight end Bennett Christian, linebacker Gabe Powers and wide receiver Caleb Burton shed their black stripe in Peach Bowl practice. Fitzpatrick, as well as fellow offensive lineman and now-sophomore Tegra Tshabola, both lost their black stripes the second week of this year’s spring practice.
Counting down
Buckeyes vs. Indiana: 163 days
Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 247 days
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