Buckeyes tight end Max Leblanc sheds black stripe
COLUMBUS — Ohio State will be without veteran tight end Will Karmarek for at least a few games. The Buckeyes need reinforcements at the position.
Freshman tight end Max Leblanc appears to be stepping up and pushing for playing time. The Canadian first-year Buckeyes tight end lost his black stripe after practice Thursday, a sign that he’s now officially a member of the football program.
Leblanc played five snaps in the Buckeyes’ win over Western Michigan in September, but he hasn’t appeared in any of the other five games this season.
He was the No. 301 overall player in the 2024 recruiting class. Leblanc was the No. 21 tight end and No. 7 player in the state of Tennessee.
Now he’s officially a member of the Ohio State football program after losing his black stripe.
Ohio State has six first- or second-team midseason All-America selections
The folks at the Associated Press have released their midseason All-America teams, and six Ohio State players are on the two-deep.
Top 10
- 1
Kirby Smart calls out CFP
Georgia HC victory laps committee after win vs. Tennessee
- 2
Heupel shades refs
Tennessee HC not happy after loss vs. Georgia
- 3
Dave Aranda
Baylor HC will return for 2025
- 4
Florida trolls Brian Kelly
'Don't damage our tables, coach'
- 5New
Travis Hunter
Colorado star heavy Heisman favorite
Texas leads the way with seven honorees. The Buckeyes are second with six. Ole Miss has four, Alabama has three, as does Georgia. Oregon has two. No other Big Ten team has more than one.
As for the Buckeyes, the only first-team selection is center Seth McLaughlin. McLaughlin transferred in from Alabama after starting 25 games for the Crimson Tide during the 2022 and 2023 seasons. He picked Ohio State after leaving Alabama last offseason, and he has proven to be among the best offensive linemen in college football — and potentially the best center. He was also named a first-team selection from The Athletic and CBS Sports.
Second-team selections for the Buckeyes are left tackle Josh Simmons, left guard Donovan Jackson, defensive tackle Ty Hamilton, safety Lathan Ransom and safety Caleb Downs.
Downs was also named a member of the first-team midseason All-America team by The Athletic and CBS Sports earlier this week.
