Another pair of Ohio State walk-ons "officially" became Buckeyes on Tuesday.
Junior safety Owen Fankhauser and freshman running back Robert Cope both had their black stripes removed on Tuesday, completing the team initiation ritual to be recognized as players who have proven they belong on the Ohio State football.
Congratulations @fanky_9 for losing your black stripe! Thank you for all you do for the Buckeyes!! pic.twitter.com/KwVawF6wTD
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) December 18, 2018
Welcome to the #ToteNation @CopeRtcope #GoBucks #WinTheMoment pic.twitter.com/NW3VhA3iRF
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) December 18, 2018
Fankhauser, a product of Stow-Munroe Falls High School, joined the team in the spring. Cope, a product of Dublin Jerome High School, joined the team this summer. Neither has appeared in a game this year.
| NAME | POSITION | YEAR | DATE OF REMOVAL |
|---|---|---|---|
| AARON COX | DL | SO | MARCH 30 |
| DE'SHAWN WHITE | WR | SO | MARCH 30 |
| TOMMY TOGIAI | DL | FR | APRIL 11 |
| DALLAS GANT | LB | FR | AUG. 8 |
| TERADJA MITCHELL | LB | FR | AUG. 9 |
| TATE DUARTE | TE | SR | AUG. 9 |
| TARON VINCENT | DT | FR | AUG. 11 |
| BRIAN SNEAD | RB | FR | AUG. 11 |
| KORY CURTIS | QB | SO | AUG. 11 |
| CHRIS OLAVE | WR | FR | AUG. 13 |
| AMARI MCMAHON | RB | JR | AUG. 15 |
| TYREKE SMITH | DE | FR | AUG. 18 |
| MASTER TEAGUE | RB | FR | AUG. 18 |
| JEREMY RUCKERT | TE | FR | AUG. 18 |
| TYREKE JOHNSON | CB | FR | AUG. 20 |
| TYLER FRIDAY | DE | FR | AUG. 27 |
| SEVYN BANKS | CB | FR | AUG. 27 |
| JAVONTAE JEAN-BAPTISTE | DE | FR | AUG. 27 |
| K'VAUGHAN POPE | LB | FR | AUG. 29 |
| CAMERON BROWN | CB | FR | AUG. 29 |
| JOSH PROCTOR | S | FR | SEPT. 5 |
| JAELEN GILL | H-B | FR | SEPT. 5 |
| SAM WIGLUSZ | WR | FR | SEPT. 5 |
| NICHOLAS PETIT-FRERE | OT | FR | SEPT. 18 |
| JACK JAMIESON | OL | FR | SEPT. 18 |
| MATT JONES | OL | FR | SEPT. 25 |
| L'CHRISTIAN "BLUE" SMITH | WR | FR | OCT. 3 |
| XAVIER JOHNSON | CB | FR | OCT. 3 |
| MARCUS HOOKER | S | FR | OCT. 10 |
| MATTHEW BALDWIN | QB | FR | OCT. 17 |
| ALEX WILLIAMS | DE | FR | OCT. 17 |
| BLAKE HAUBEIL | K | SO | OCT. 30 |
| LLOYD MCFARQUHAR | CB | FR | NOV. 13 |
| TRAYVON WILBURN | LB | FR | NOV. 13 |
| ALEX BADINE | CB | JR | NOV. 28 |
| CHRIS KUHN | DE | FR | NOV. 28 |
| OWEN FANKHAUSER | S | JR | DEC. 18 |
| ROBERT COPE | RB | FR | DEC. 18 |
