Devin Sanchez didn’t waste much time letting Ohio State’s upcoming schedule know how he feels about it.
After the Buckeyes’ first practice, the sophomore cornerback was asked what jumped out at him when he looked ahead, and he went straight to the marquee matchups.
"My first thought when I saw the schedule was Cam Coleman Week 2, Charlie Becker at Indiana, and obviously my boy Dakorien Moore at Oregon. And Evan Stewart, who I know very well.
That friendship will be out the window when we're on the field. And when that whistle blows, for that full 60 minutes, it's not a friendship.
I gotta go out there, and I gotta beat you. That's what it is and what comes with it."
That kind of confidence is exactly what Ohio State wants to see from a player expected to battle for the starting cornerback job opposite Jermaine Mathews Jr. Sanchez was the No. 1 cornerback in the 2025 recruiting class, and last season he was pushed into action early as a freshman. The results were uneven, but his role grew late in the year, and he now heads into this season with a real chance to lock down a major spot in the secondary.
He also sounded plenty sure the Buckeyes will be playing deep into the postseason.
"We're gonna make the stretch in the playoffs, and whoever I gotta guard, I gotta guard. And it is what it is, and it's going to play out how it plays out."
That belief isn’t coming out of nowhere. Ohio State finished last season with the best defense in most major statistical categories, including the nation’s top pass defense by more than 30 yards per game. Sanchez thinks he can be part of keeping that standard intact in 2026.
A big reason for that optimism is Matt Patricia’s return as defensive coordinator. Ohio State brought him back in the offseason, and the move was seen as a major one after the Buckeyes stayed elite under his system during the 2024 title run. With Patricia back, the expectation inside and outside the program is that the defense will be even more comfortable in what it’s doing.
That confidence has helped keep Ohio State at the top of the national conversation, even after losing three first-round picks from last year’s defense. Coaches around the country have the Buckeyes ranked No. 1, and by a wide margin.
As for Sanchez, he’s in a tight race for the job. He’s competing with transfer Dominick Kelly and true freshman Jay Timmons, though his late-season play and spring practice work make him the clear favorite to start.
For a player who entered college with huge expectations, the challenge now is carrying them without blinking. Based on the way he talked after practice, he sounds ready for it.
In Other News...
Ohio State Freshman RB Suddenly Has An Early Camp Problem
A few days into fall camp, Ohio State already has a small early wrinkle in its running back room. True freshman Legend Bey was sidelined for the opening day of practice after being suspended for a violation of team rules, leaving the Buckeyes to move forward with other backs while the newcomer watches from the side.
Ryan Day confirmed the suspension but offered no specifics, which leaves Beys status and any immediate path to playing time unsettled. For now, Ohio State can lean on options such as Bo Jackson and Isaiah West, but the situation is a reminder that even before the real competition starts, camp can bring its own off-field complications. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Faces New Jamier Brown Questions At A Tough Time
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Brown is now back at Huber Heights Wayne High School after that brief stop at Big Walnut, and the school confirmed he is no longer enrolled while declining to say more. For Ohio State, the timing only adds to the questions around a commitment that has been under the microscope, especially with Brian Hartline no longer in place as a recruiter to help steady things. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Closing In On A Huge Quarterback Recruiting Win
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Saturday now looms as the key date in this one, with Vargas set to make his decision and bring an end to the early speculation. For Ohio State, the appeal is obvious: landing a player with his profile this early would be a major statement in the class and a sign that the Buckeyes are winning the kind of head-to-head battles that matter on the recruiting trail. The final call is still ahead, but the sense around this recruitment is that the Buckeyes are in a strong position entering the announcement. [Read more 🡒]