Ohio State's tight ends are an integral part of the team's offense this season and were perhaps featured more this year than in any other under Ryan Day.
Cade Stover, Mitch Rossi and Gee Scott Jr. were the main contributors for the Buckeyes in that room in 2022. But in the future, Bennett Christian has an opportunity to establish the tight end position as a consistent piece of Day's offensive game plan. After shedding his black stripe this week, he's started the path to making that happen.
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) December 17, 2022
welcome to the brotherhood, @BennettC87 #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/jxyTdqXe12
Christian, a freshman from Allatoona, Georgia, ranked as a four-star prospect in the 247Sports composite rankings, became the third Ohio State player to shed his black stripe during bowl practices, joining freshmen defensive end Omari Abor and offensive lineman Carson Hinzman.
The 6-foot-5, 245-pound tight end appeared in two games for Ohio State during the regular season, playing nine offensive snaps in the Buckeyes' win over Toledo and contributing on special teams in the team's victory against Michigan State. Christian is in line to redshirt and will still have four seasons of remaining eligibility after this year.
In those four years, Christian will look to carve a role for himself built upon the hard work he has contributed in practice to this point – the work his coaches and teammates noticed and rewarded with a scarlet stripe to be worn on his helmet from now on. He is the 25th Buckeye and 19th true freshman to shed his black stripe this season.
Here is the complete list of black stripe removals for 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 |
