It's the middle of the football season, and we've got a black stripe alert. Freshman Max Riley has shed his black stripe and has been officially welcomed to the Ohio State Brotherhood.
Hailing from Avon Lake, Ohio, Riley was a four-star prospect according to 247Sports. He was ranked as the No. 168 player in the nation and the No. 9 interior offensive lineman in the 2026 class. Riley was one of the first players to commit to the Buckeyes early in 2025, as he was a priority for Ryan Day and Tyler Bowen.
After being introduced by Director of Player Development, C.J. Barnett, Riley addressed his teammates, saying, "First and foremost, I just want to give all the glory and praise to my lord and Savior, Jesus Christ," Riley said, addressing the team.
"Coming out here, man, being with you guys every day, it's a blessing. Shoutout to the O Block, shoutout to coach Tyler Bowen, coach Mateo, coach Fields, coach Dickey, shoutout to the rushmen for getting me better every day. Shoutout to the strength staff and Coach Mick. Shoutout EQ, nutrition, shoutout to everybody. Go Bucks."
๐จ ๐๐น๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ ๐ฆ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฝ๐ฒ ๐๐น๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐จ
โ Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) October 7, 2026
Tough, Physical & an Absolute Baller ๐ Welcome to the Brotherhood, @bigmax2026 ๐ฐ pic.twitter.com/UyklRfgpIp
Riley becomes the fourth freshman to lose his black stripe during the season, joining, Cincere Johnson, DeShawn Steward, and Braxton Rembert.
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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Ohio State Black Stripe Alert! Offensive lineman sheds black stripe
