Why is this UCLA offensive lineman wearing so much eye black?

Alex Redmond, an offensive lineman for UCLA, captured attention last week for wearing a bit too much eye black

His decision to sport an inordinate amount of sun protection continued Saturday against Arizona State. Stephen Nelson from Bleacher Report tweeted this photo during UCLA's game vs. ASU, showing half of Redmond's face covered in eye black. 

Why is Redmond making this strange, public fashion statement? 

Some speculate that it might be a tribute to the Star Trek episode ("Let That Be Your Last Battlefield") where Frank Gorshin painted half his face black. Other people, however, are just confused. 

(h/t Bleacher Report)