Stars matter, but they aren’t everything. In a recruiting class ranked third-best by 247Sports, headlined by two five-star recruits and 16 four-star recruits, Brock Boyd was overlooked by most of the national folks. As a three-star athlete and considered the 123rd-ranked receiver in the class, he had his work cut out for him to make an impact for a program dripping with elite receiver talent.
And yet, the first true freshman to lose his black stripe was not one of those highly-rated players; it was Boyd. Despite being the fifth-lowest-rated player in the class (including a kicker) and the lowest-rated of the four new receivers, Boyd has made such an impact that coaches had to recognize it. Each spring, coaches place a piece of black tape over the middle scarlet stripe on a new player’s helmet (or, rather, a black stripe down the middle of a player’s Guardian Cap). Both incoming freshmen and incoming transfers get black stripes. It’s an initiation, and in order to officially earn a spot on the team, the player must work and impress the coaches to the point of removing the stripe.
It wasn’t Chris Henry Jr. It wasn’t Jerquaden Guilford or Jaeden Ricketts. Boyd is the first freshman receiver officially welcomed to the 2026 Ohio State football team.
Brock Boyd is the First Freshman to Lose His Black Stripe
Earlier this week, incoming transfers Earl Little Jr. (former Florida State safety) and Kyle Parker (former LSU wide receiver) officially joined the team by shedding their black stripes. Today, former Wisconsin Linebacker Christian Alliegro joined them. With six practices under their belt, it makes sense that the freshmen were going to start to lose their own black stripes soon. Last year, it took Quincy Porter (now a member of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish) 11 practices to be the first and only 2025 recruit to shed his black stripe in the spring. In 2024, Jeremiah Smith did so after just four practices.
This year, it was Boyd.
Coaches Give Vote of Confidence
On Saturday, new wide receivers coach Cortez Hankton took some time to talk about the impressive freshman. Hankton said Boyd has stepped up every time his number was called. While Boyd was on Hankton’s radar, the coach was blown away. “What makes Brock truly a good football player is his football IQ, first and foremost…he’s truly instinctive and understands conceptual football.”
Hankton highlighted Boyd’s upbringing in a family of football coaches, saying the young receiver understands the game as if he’s a third-year player in college. Boyd has some physical attributes that make him elite, but it’s his toughness, processing, and overall football IQ and awareness that have caught the eye of the coaches.
On Tuesday, head coach Ryan Day announced Boyd lost his black stripe, becoming the first member of the 2026 recruiting class to do so. Boyd has been making plays thus far in spring camp, and he had a few explosive plays today. Day added, “This is somebody who knows how to run a route. He’s serious about it. He can play multiple positions.” Day went on to praise Boyd, “He’s got quick twitch; he can change direction, he’s got strong hands.”
In terms of expectations, Day expects great things from Boyd after his impressive start. “I had a feeling just watching him in high school and his approach that he would be able to step on the field early and make an impact.”
Boyd in 2026
Remember an overlooked composite three-star receiver from the 2018 class who quietly worked his way into the rotation and eventually broke out against Michigan? Chris Olave was the third-best receiver from Ohio State’s 2018 haul and was marginally ahead of the fourth. He was not the crown jewel of the class, but he went on to be one of the best receivers from the Brian Hartline era, owns the career receiving touchdowns record, and went on to be the 11th overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft.
We are not saying Boyd is the next Olave, but there are similarities. Both players were route-running craftsmen, and neither was considered the top playmaker in their respective classes.
It all depends on how much Hankton wants to rotate his receivers, but it’s not outlandish to expect that Boyd is going to find himself on the field. The top of the receiver depth chart is deep with Smith, Henry, and Parker, along with Brandon Inniss, Devin McCuin, and fellow true freshman Guilford. However, the best ability is availability. With his impressive route running and ability to play all three receiver roles, Boyd could emerge as a regular member of the rotation.
Ohio State’s Spring Game is on April 18. Don’t be surprised if number 11 is showing what he can do with more than one quarterback out there.
Main Image: Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
