Scarlet Sunrise: Buckeyes linebacker Garrett Stover loses black stripe

COLUMBUS — Ohio State is really excited about the future for freshman linebacker Garrett Stover. The first-year defender is earning his stripes and cutting his teeth on scout team this fall with an eye on that future. He took a huge step forward in his development Wednesday after practice.

Stover earned the removal of his black stripe, an indication that he’s officially a member of the football program.

Ohio State linebackers coach James Laurinaitis has been impressed with Stover’s athleticism since the former four-star from Sunbury arrived in the winter.

“Garrett can run. I can tell you that. Garrett can run,” Laurinaitis said during the preseason. “I think sometimes you got to get him to just slow down. He can be a little spastic at times, just with his feet. But when I think of Garrett Stover, if he’s not on our kickoff unit, then that’s a problem, because he can fly.”

Stover has played limited snaps on the kickoff team this year but could see more special teams time as the season continues through November and into the postseason. For now, he’s grinding on scout team and learning how to be a college football player.

He took a big step in that regard this week, shedding his black stripe.

Seth McLaughlin update: Ryan Day confirms injury of star center

Ohio State coach Ryan Day confirmed the devastating news on Wednesday evening: Buckeyes starting center and mid-season All-American Seth McLaughlin will be out for the season with an achilles injury suffered Tuesday.

Former center Carson Hinzman, who started 12 games at center last year for the Buckeyes, will slide into the center role from his current spot at left guard. Of course, that would create an opening at left guard, which will be filled by Austin Siereveld, who started two games at left guard at the beginning of the season.

Day said McLaughlin will have surgery next week to repair the achilles and will be spending this week helping prepare for Indiana.

The former Alabama starter transferred to Ohio State last offseason after starting 25 games for the Crimson Tide across two seasons. He has started every game for the Buckeyes this year, becoming one of the best centers in all of college football and a sure-thing NFL Draft choice.

Will Kacmarek ‘going to be ready to play’ for Buckeyes

Ohio State starting tight end Will Kacmarek hasn’t been in action for the Buckeyes since their road loss to Oregon last month, and coach Ryan Day gave a very promising update on the status of the playmaker.

Day was asked again Wednesday night — for the third straight week — about Kacmarek’s progress as he works back from an undisclosed upper-body injury, and his update was certainly promising, even more so than last week’s update. Kacmarek is expected to be ready to play for the Buckeyes in their top-five showdown against Indiana (Noon, FOX).

“It looks like he’s going to be ready to play,” Day said Wednesday night. “He’s had a good week of practice. We’ll see how he does tomorrow and see what he says, see what the doctor says. But he’s had a good week.”

Kacmarek left the Oregon game after just a few plays following a 32-yard reception that set up the game’s opening touchdown by quarterback Will Howard. He hasn’t played since then.

Counting down

Ohio State vs. No. 5 Indiana: 2 days
Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 9 days
Big Ten championship game: 16 days

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