For the first time since 2018, when Damon Arnette, Kendall Sheffield, and Jeffrey Okudah were lining up out wide, the Ohio State Buckeyes will have a three-cornerback rotation under co-defensive coordinator, secondary, and CB coach Tim Walton during the 2026 College Football season.
Cleveland.com's Stephen Means pegs Devin Sanchez as the team's star-in-waiting to hold the group together, while tabbing Dominick Kelly as Sanchez's CB3 successor next to slot corner Jermaine Matthews Jr.
"Sanchez’s development is one of the factors that will decide how high the ceiling is for Ohio State’s defense. Early signs suggest he’s ready to be the star OSU needs him to be," Means wrote. "Mathews is the most experienced cornerback on the roster and will start. He also has the versatility to move into the slot if needed. Those looks open up a chance for Kelly to have a role similar to what Sanchez had last season as the third cornerback. At the bare minimum, that’ll be the Georgia transfer’s role. But there’s also room for OSU to have a true rotation at cornerback for the first time since coach Tim Walton got to Columbus with Kelly, Mathews, and Sanchez."
Ohio State's CB room is one of Buckeyes' most pronounced strengths
In early April, Bucknuts' Dave Biddle predicted Kelly would not be denied his share of snaps this coming season. Per Biddle, "He's gonna play. He'll be a backup, but he will play and add good depth to the room."
From the sounds of it, Matthews appears to be the steadiest hand with the highest floor but lowest ceiling. The Georgia Bulldogs transfer Kelly could be a wild card in production, while Sanchez has the highest pressure to deliver.
We'll see how those expectations play out in real time. The Buckeyes' secondary is expected to be a strength for the team again, especially with the linebacker room depleted by the draft and a defensive tackle group that is unproven relative to the rest of the defensive roster. The safety room is deep, though it will be missing Caleb Downs' dominance. Corner has to be a strong position in Columbus this year.
Will it play out that way? It's unclear. But it's a great sign that this CB room is being compared to the one Kerry Coombs built for the Buckeyes back in the mid-2010s.
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