Ohio State Cornerback Devin Sanchez Becomes Fourth Freshman to Shed Black Stripe in 2025

Ohio State cornerback Devin Sanchez was one of two Buckeyes to shed their black stripes on Wednesday, along with former West Virginia running back CJ Donaldson. Sanchez becomes the fourth freshman to add scarlet to his helmet, following wide receiver Quincy Porter, linebacker Riley Pettijohn and tight end Nate Roberts.

The next generation of BIA is here Welcome to the Brotherhood @Devin2416 pic.twitter.com/jhOOnCxCp7

— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) August 6, 2025

The No. 1 cornerback and No. 8 overall prospect in the 2025 class, Sanchez committed to Ohio State on Jan. 6, 2024, and never wavered from his pledge. After Sanchez enrolled in January 2025, the Houston, Texas, native made an immediate impression on head coach Ryan Day and secondary coach Tim Walton.

"He's got the right mindset. He's out there competing, and he's doing some good things. He's also making some mistakes and learning from that and growing," Day said in April. "He just needs to continue to get reps under his belt and grow from it. Obviously, we all know he has the talent and has a bright future. He's gonna be a really good player here."

"He's doing a solid job, but he's learning and growing," Walton said in April. "But he's doing well. He's picking stuff up. He's making some plays. He still has some stuff to learn because you know how it is – a lot of different stuff, a lot of moving parts. But he's doing well. We're pleased with his progression so far."

Sanchez acknowledged this spring that he was “at the bottom” of Ohio State’s depth chart and would need to “work my way up to the top.” That mindset appears to have paid off, as he becomes the fourth freshman to lose his black stripe in 2025.

With the season fast approaching, Sanchez’s exact role remains to be seen, but he’s expected to contribute. In his latest depth chart projection, Eleven Warriors editor Dan Hope slotted Sanchez as a second-string cornerback, joining fellow five-star Aaron Scott Jr. behind starters Davison Igbinosun and Jermaine Mathews Jr.