Ohio State Buckeyes cornerback is already generating NFL draft buzz, despite not being eligible to be taken until the 2028 draft. CBS Sports' Brad Crawford listed Sanchez as a potential sophomore standout who will define the 2026/2027 CFP race.
Per Crawford, "The Buckeyes should be relieved Sanchez played 409 snaps last fall as a freshman, considering their secondary lost first-round safety Caleb Downs and cornerback Davison Igbinosun, the No. 62 overall pick, last month. One of six new starters for Matt Patricia's defense, Sanchez finished the year with 15 tackles, two pass deflections, and a fumble recovery, much of that production coming in his lone start at Illinois (five tackles). The No. 1 cornerback and fifth-best player overall in the 2025 class, Sanchez expects to hear his name called on Day 1 two years from now in the NFL Draft as long as his development keeps up."
Sanchez catapulted himself to more notoriety in Central Ohio with a strong performance against the Miami Hurricanes in the 2025 Cotton Bowl Classic. The North Shore (TX) product didn't give up a single completed pass in coverage against Miami, which was limited to 138 passing yards but was beaten on the ground to the tune of 153 yards on 37 carries.
Sanchez recently warned the College Football world that he'd be bringing that same energy he displayed against the Canes throughout the 2026 season.
“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," Sanchez said. “Just taking that next step and realizing what I could’ve done last year. After that Miami game, I realized (that) if I had just done this all season, it could’ve been a whole different outcome."
Perhaps there's no greater addition to a Buckeyes defense than a season-long lockdown corner lining up outside in the boundary. Ohio State will have a three-CB rotation, but it's clear that Sanchez will be the workhorse tasked with slowing down opposing WR-Xs.
Ohio State CB Devin Sanchez is built for the NFL
There's not even a doubt in anyone's mind that Sanchez was an NFL-caliber talent since the moment he stepped onto the field. Clearly, the question is whether or not he'll make it to the top of the draft. After one year, there's confidence from the Big Ten's new broadcast partner that he will be.
Sanchez, at six-foot-two and over 200 pounds, has great size for the position. He brings elite speed to the equation, with a 10.69-second 100-meter dash, and tops it off with a strong sense of what the quarterback is thinking on nearly every snap.
The hype is high for the entire CB room, with more questions being present in the safety room. Earl Little Jr. and Terry Moore offer solid, if unknown, options in the secondary. Sanchez's hype, though, is on a different level as we approach fall camp and, eventually, a pivotal 2026 season coming off a winless CFP run.
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