Every day from now until the start of the season, Land-Grant Holy Land is highlighting Ohio State football players that you should be watching this season. Check out all of our ”Player to Watch” articles to get ready for the season opener against Texas.
Entering the 2024-25 college football season, Ohio State fans were excited to see what incoming freshman Jeremiah Smith would provide to the team.
Entering this season, it is another No. 4 that is expected to turn heads in their freshman campaign.
Freshman
cornerback Devin Sanchez is one of the most anticipated freshman to get onto the field this fall, and so far, he has impressed in camp. Sanchez was a five-star prospect and one of the top players nationally in the 2025 class. He was rated the No. 1 cornerback and No. 5 overall player according to 247Sports and received an invitational to play in the 2025 Navy All-American Bowl.
He was a District 21-6A first-team selection, a member of the 247Sports’ 2025 Freaks List, a member of the MaxPreps High School Football All-America team. Sanchez signed with the Buckeyes in December and enrolled in classes in January 2025 and competed in spring drills
According to Gabe Brooks, a 247 Sports Scouting Analyst, Sanchez is the next star in the Buckeye secondary.
“[Sanchez] owns a rare combination of frame length, fluidity, and sudden athleticism. Controlled, measured style of play that belies elite athleticism. Combines smooth movement with twitched-up explosiveness. Awareness and instincts enhance those physical and athletic advantages. Comfortable on an island with the required juice to turn and run in the vertical game.”
Brooks added, “Also, can excel in zone situations because of frame and instincts. Plays with above average ball skills, aided in part by occasional snaps at receiver. Anticipatory abilities, quick-trigger twitch, and length put him in the catch window consistently. Lean, wiry build that likely fosters high press-man potential, but needs to get stronger. Willing perimeter run defender who can clean up tackling technique. Strong verified speed markers, including a 10.69 100, 21.73 200, and 49.45 400.”
Brooks also projects him as a future first round pick and compared him to first round pick from Oregon Christian Gonzalez.
Sanchez lost his black stripe at practice last week, becoming the fourth Ohio State freshman to lose the black stripe from the 2025 recruiting class. He joins wide receiver Quincy Porter, linebacker Riley Pettijohn and tight end Nate Roberts.
ESPN also recently listed Sanchez as the No. 4 freshman in all of college football.
“In practice, Sanchez is going toe-to-toe with the best group of receivers in the country — matching up against Jeremiah Smith and Co. Sanchez, a former five-star recruit, is ready for immediate playing time this fall from a physical and mental standpoint,” said Billy Tucker of ESPN. “The highest-rated Ohio State cornerback commit since 2006, Sanchez will face plenty of pressure but has all the intangibles to deliver. His elite combination of size (6-2), speed (10.69 100-meter dash) and athleticism will be difficult to keep on the sideline.”
Tucker continued, “The freshman can win in one-on-one situations and has the confidence and speed to run vertically with faster Big Ten receivers and contest the jump ball. Though he still might enter Week 1 as the third corner, expect plenty of meaningful snaps out of the gate.”
Jermaine Mathews Jr. and Davidson Igbinosun are the starting cornerbacks this season, but Sanchez will surely get his fair share of playing time as a true freshman. Everyone is excited to see what he can do in one of the toughest positions to play as a newcomer to college football.
