Ohio State Safety Terry Moore Sheds Black Stripe

Duke transfer makes progress in adjustment to Buckeyes program

Apr. 13, 2026 at 4:28pm

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A fractured, multi-angled painting depicting the dynamic movements of a football player in scarlet and gray, the colors of Ohio State, rendered in Picasso's signature cubist style.A cubist interpretation of an Ohio State defensive back's aggressive pursuit, reflecting the program's ability to mold talented transfers into key contributors.Columbus Today

Ohio State safety Terry Moore, a transfer from Duke, has shed his black stripe, officially becoming a member of the Buckeyes program. Moore, who missed last season due to a knee injury, was previously rated as the best Power Five safety in the nation in 2024 while at Duke. He joins a growing list of Ohio State transfers and freshmen who have reached this milestone this spring.

Why it matters

Shedding the black stripe is an important rite of passage for Ohio State players, signifying their full integration into the program. Moore's progress is particularly notable given his injury history and the jump in competition from Duke to Ohio State, one of the top college football programs in the country.

The details

After a slow start to spring practice, Moore has started to turn it on recently, leading to him shedding his black stripe on April 13th. He is the first transfer safety to lose his black stripe and the 10th transfer overall to reach this milestone for the Buckeyes this spring. Prior to his knee injury, Moore had a standout 2024 season at Duke, where he was rated as the best Power Five safety in the nation.

  • Terry Moore shed his black stripe on April 13, 2026.
  • Moore missed the 2025 season at Duke due to a knee injury.
  • In 2024, Moore was rated as the best Power Five safety in the nation while at Duke.

The players

Terry Moore

A safety transfer from Duke University who is making progress in his adjustment to the Ohio State program after missing the 2025 season due to a knee injury.

Caleb Downs

A former Ohio State star safety who was ranked just behind Moore in PFF's overall defensive grades in 2024.

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What’s next

Moore will look to continue his strong spring and solidify a starting role in the Ohio State secondary as the Buckeyes prepare for the upcoming season.

The takeaway

Terry Moore's progress in shedding his black stripe demonstrates the Buckeyes' ability to successfully integrate talented transfer players into their program, even those coming off injury. His emergence could provide a boost to Ohio State's defensive backfield as they aim to compete for a national championship.