Ohio State's Devin Sanchez Poised for Breakout Season

Cornerback looks to build on promising freshman campaign and become an All-American

Apr. 9, 2026 at 1:21am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a college football defensive back in motion, with sharp, overlapping planes of scarlet and gray colors representing Ohio State's uniform colors.Ohio State's Devin Sanchez looks to become a lockdown cornerback and anchor the Buckeyes' secondary in his sophomore season.Columbus Today

Devin Sanchez, a highly touted cornerback recruit, is entering his sophomore season at Ohio State with high expectations. After playing significant snaps as a freshman, including in the College Football Playoff, Sanchez is ready to take the next step and become a dominant player for the Buckeyes' defense.

Why it matters

Sanchez's development is crucial for Ohio State's secondary, which is looking to solidify its defensive ceiling. As a former five-star recruit, Sanchez has the talent to become a lockdown corner and a potential All-American, which would be a major boost for the Buckeyes' championship aspirations.

The details

Sanchez played 323 snaps as a freshman, including starting against Illinois and seeing significant action in the playoff loss to Miami. While he showed promise, he admits to being a bit timid and nervous at times. However, after that Miami game, Sanchez realized his potential and is now determined to take his game to the next level. Cornerbacks coach Tim Walton has challenged Sanchez to become a 'dominant' and 'lockdown' player this season.

  • Sanchez played 323 snaps as a freshman in 2025.
  • Sanchez started against Illinois and played 43 snaps in the College Football Playoff loss to Miami.
  • Sanchez is entering his sophomore season in 2026.

The players

Devin Sanchez

A former five-star recruit who was the best cornerback in the 2025 class. He is entering his sophomore season at Ohio State and is expected to be a key piece of the Buckeyes' secondary.

Tim Walton

The cornerbacks coach at Ohio State, who has challenged Sanchez to become a 'dominant' and 'lockdown' player this season.

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What they’re saying

“He has to become a dominant player for us. He's going into his second year. He has the talent. He has to take the next step of being dominant. Being lockdown. That's the expectation. He's working toward that.”

— Tim Walton, Cornerbacks Coach

“I was a little timid last year. I was just nervous out there. But I feel like this year I've just calmed down a little bit. I've gained my confidence back.”

— Devin Sanchez

“When we went into the offseason, I told Coach Walt I'm not stepping back this year. I'm coming in foot on the gas. I'm not letting up. It doesn't matter who's in front of me, I'm gonna win.”

— Devin Sanchez

What’s next

Sanchez will look to build on his promising freshman campaign and establish himself as a lockdown cornerback and potential All-American candidate for the Buckeyes in the 2026 season.

The takeaway

Devin Sanchez's development is crucial for Ohio State's defense, as the talented cornerback has the potential to become a dominant player and anchor the secondary. His willingness to learn from his freshman experiences and his renewed confidence suggest he is poised for a breakout season that could propel the Buckeyes to new heights.