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Ohio State’s Chris Henry Jr. Loses Black Stripe, Jump-Starts Bid for Z Receiver Role

The milestone signals staff trust for early playing time at an open Z receiver spot.

Overview

  • Ohio State confirmed Wednesday that the five-star freshman wide receiver shed his black stripe at practice, a team tradition shared via the program’s official account.
  • At Ohio State, removing the black stripe marks a freshman as trusted for regular reps and possible game action rather than just practice work.
  • The opening at Z receiver follows Carnell Tate’s move to the NFL, with Brandon Inniss widely expected in the slot and Jeremiah Smith established at X.
  • Henry is the second freshman wideout to earn the honor this spring after Brock Boyd, who lost his stripe on March 31.
  • Rated the No. 2 receiver in the 2026 class by 247Sports, Henry now heads into Saturday’s spring game with momentum to push for early snaps.