Ohio State LB K’Vaughan Pope launches social media blast during game after on-field incident
Ohio State senior linebacker K’Vaughan Pope made quite the exit from Saturday’s game between the Buckeyes and Akron at Ohio Stadium.
Multiple reports indicate Pope tried to run onto the field during an Akron drive in the second quarter but was waved off by teammate Teradja Mitchell.
That apparently set off Pope, who started walking down the sideline toward the locker room.
Play continued and somehow a director of player development C.J. Barnett got to Pope in the end zone and helped re-direct him to the sidelines.
That only made things worse.
Pope took his helmet off and appeared to have a heated verbal exchange with linebacker coach Al Washington before taking off his gloves and throwing them into the crowd. Team captain Kamryn Babb was among a contingent of Buckeye players that attempted to calm Pope down, but the fourth-year defender eventually walked to the locker room with Barnett by his side.
Ohio State coach Ryan Day somehow was alerted to this and Pope was led to the locker room while the game was ongoing.
Once there, he blasted Ohio State in a tweet using NSFW language. The tweet was eventually deleted.
Pope saw minimal action with the Buckeyes in 2021.
Per his Buckeyes bio:
• Has played in 31 career games and been a key contributor on special teams
• Among his two tackles last season (2020) was 1.5 tackles for loss – for minus seven yards – and one quarterback hurry
• Recorded interceptions in back to back games versus Maryland and Rutgers in 2019
• Contributed 13 total tackles (six solo, seven assisted) and two pass breakups
• Had six tackles (two solo, four assisted) and one INT at Rutgers.
• Played in 11 of 14 games for the Big Ten and Rose Bowl champion Buckeyes as a true freshman, primarily on special teams
• Is exploring majors in management & industry
