A highly-touted first-year defender has "officially" become a Buckeye.
Freshman linebacker Gabe Powers, a four-star recruit and the No. 101 overall prospect in the class of 2022, lost his black stripe during bowl practice.
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) December 20, 2022
newest member of the regulators, @GabePowers21#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/1sRY9SGdzA
The 6-foot-3, 214-pound Marysville, Ohio, native was the second-highest rated linebacker recruit in the Buckeyes' 2022 cycle behind only five-star talent C.J. Hicks, and was among the six most highly-rated defenders in Ohio State's class.
After entering the program as an early enrollee last winter, Powers didn't log any defensive snaps during his first regular season in Columbus, but made special teams appearances against Toledo and Wisconsin in the first four games.
At Marysville, Powers earned Gatorade Player of the Year and USA TODAY Player of the Year honors in the state of Ohio after leading his team to the regional finals of the high school playoffs this past season. Powers did it all for the Monarchs, playing on offense, defense and special teams, but he's long been pegged as a promising linebacker prospect at the college level.
Powers is the fourth Buckeye freshman to lose his black stripe since the end of the regular season, joining Omari Abor (Dec. 7), Carson Hinzman (Dec. 14) and Bennett Christian (Dec. 17). Powers is the 20th freshman to lose his black stripe this season and the 26th Buckeye to earn the honor overall since the start of 2022.
| PLAYER | POS | DATE | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TANNER MCCALISTER | S | MARCH 28 | Transfer |
| KYE STOKES | S | APRIL 8 | Freshman |
| CADEN CURRY | DE | APRIL 11 | Freshman |
| CHIP TRAYANUM | LB | AUG. 9 | Transfer |
| JYAIRE BROWN | CB | AUG. 9 | Freshman |
| C.J. HICKS | LB | AUG. 13 | Freshman |
| ZAK HERBSTREIT | TE | AUG. 17 | Second year |
| KALEB BROWN | WR | AUG. 17 | Freshman |
| KYION GRAYES | WR | AUG. 20 | Freshman |
| DALLAN HAYDEN | RB | AUG. 20 | Freshman |
| JOOP MITCHELL | WR | AUG. 20 | Second year |
| KENYATTA JACKSON | DE | AUG. 20 | Freshman |
| SONNY STYLES | S | AUG. 30 | Freshman |
| TC CAFFEY | RB | SEPT. 14 | Freshman |
| KOJO ANTWI | WR | SEPT. 15 | Freshman |
| MASON MAGGS | QB | SEPT. 15 | Freshman |
| RYAN TURNER | CB | SEPT. 22 | Freshman |
| HERO KANU | DT | SEPT. 22 | Freshman |
| JAYDEN FIELDING | K | OCT. 6 | Freshman |
| DEVIN BROWN | QB | OCT. 6 | Freshman |
| MASON ARNOLD | LS | NOV. 3 | Second year |
| JACK FORSMAN | OL | NOV. 3 | Second year |
| OMARI ABOR | DE | DEC. 7 | Freshman |
| CARSON HINZMAN | OL | DEC. 14 | Freshman |
| BENNETT CHRISTIAN | TE | DEC. 17 | Freshman |
| GABE POWERS | LB | DEC. 20 | Freshman |
