Ohio State Walk-On Tight End Zak Herbstreit Loses Black Stripe

The second-year tight end, who joined Ohio State as a preferred walk-on in June 2021, became the latest Buckeye to shed his black stripe Wednesday.

Lets go, @ZHerbstreit#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/ft8SuzpswW

— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) August 17, 2022

The son of former Ohio State quarterback and college football announcer Kirk Herbstreit, Zak Herbstreit played high school football at Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville – where he was named first-team all-region as a senior – before walking on with the Buckeyes.

Zak-
So proud of you!
So proud of your approach, humility, work ethic, desire to prove yourself, and overall positive attitude to your dreams.
This was a big day for you. Congratulations!!
Just keep battlin and climbin. And ALWAYS keep being a great teammate!
Love you! https://t.co/JWbpknu592

— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) August 17, 2022

A 6-foot-2, 243-pound tight end, Herbstreit didn't see any snaps in his first year in the program, but is now one of the first two offensive players to have a black stripe removed this year along with freshman wide receiver Kaleb Brown, who also shed his black stripe Wednesday. Chip Trayanum, Jyaire Brown and C.J. Hicks were the previous three Buckeyes to lose their black stripes this fall, with all of them doing so within the past eight days.

Herbstreit and Brown are the seventh and eighth Buckeyes to lose their black stripe this year, as Tanner McCalister, Kye Stokes and Caden Curry all earned the honor this spring.