This fall, Ohio State will have to rebuild every level of its defense with so many leaving either by the portal or to the NFL. With Davison Igbinosun and Lorenzo Styles, Jr. heading to the NFL, and Bryce West (Wisconsin) and Aaron Scott Jr. (Oregon) moving within the conference, there has been some concern how the Buckeyes will respond.
They say iron sharpens iron, so this room should benefit from facing off against first-round receiver after first-round receiver, right? Well, with how well Ohio State has recruited the position, there are reasons for optimism despite the departures. This spring, those corners have been lining up against some of the best receivers in the game, and a few players have been standing out.
The Ohio State Cornerback Battle is Heating Up Through Spring
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Heading into last season, a true freshman corner was lauded as “the Jeremiah Smith of the defense.” While Devin Sanchez didn’t have a defensive impact akin to Smith’s 1,300-yard, 15-touchdown season, he suited up for 321 defensive snaps. In that time, he amassed 15 tackles, two pass breakups, and a fumble recovery. Most impressively, he was used in high-leverage situations against Texas in Week 1, plus a whopping 43 snaps in the Cotton Bowl loss to Miami (FL) in the College Football Playoff. While he didn’t have one of the starting roles, the coaches obviously trusted him on the field for consequential downs.
Now, he’s set to take over as the number-two corner behind Jermaine Mathews Jr., one of the two corners who played more than Sanchez in 2025.
The first player name mentioned from Ryan Day’s Monday, April 6, press conference was Sanchez. He highlighted that the coaching staff has seen good progress from Sanchez, but that the sophomore knows that he has to bring it on every play now that he’s battling for a starting job. He mentioned that Sanchez was trusted with so much playing time last year, helping his development to this point.
Nothing is written in stone, but Sanchez looks like he’s on the path to being the top corner in the group in 2025.
Not to be Outdone
The number-one corner on the depth chart will be Mathews this fall. He returns to Columbus after leading the room in snaps a year ago. Of the group, he’s by far the most experienced. He could have left for the NFL and tested his way into a decent pick, but the end of last year left a bad taste in his mouth. When asked why he returned, Mathews said, “I didn’t end the season how I wanted to end it last year, so I felt like there was some unfinished business. So I think I made the right decision to come back and build on what I can.”
Those final two games were likely his worst in the scarlet and gray. In total, Indiana and Miami managed eight catches for 108 yards and one score. That one touchdown was the game-winner by Indiana, plus he allowed the game-clinching grab later on.
Mathews has been part of the Ohio State secondary ever since he stepped on campus. As a freshman, he allowed four catches (17 targets) for 34 yards on 194 snaps. In his national championship-winning sophomore season, Mathews was the first corner off the bench and added 395 snaps. In that time, he allowed 17 catches (26 targets) for 157 yards and one score. Then, last year, he led the room with 693 snaps and allowed 20 catches (36 targets) for 173 yards and one touchdown.
Now, he looks to be the one to take over Igbinosun’s role. Of course, if one of the new guys emerges, he could be a great slot corner to replace Styles.
The New Guys
It could be argued that the best group of guys heading to Columbus was the haul of corners. It’s usually a telling indicator that a player is a good one when the fanbase is visibly upset that he transferred at all, let alone to a fellow contender.
Dominick Kelly left Georgia to play for the Buckeyes this winter. In no time at all, he’s been showing that he deserves some playing time, not unlike the last major corner transfer from the SEC (Igbinosun).
Ohio State had its first scrimmage on Saturday in front of the students, and Kelly stood out. It was reported that he was sticky in coverage and nearly hauled in a Julian Sayin interception. Eleven Warriors highlighted one play in which Kelly keyed in on a receiver screen, crashed downhill, and hit the receiver at the point of attack for a tackle for loss.
He has been in a battle with fellow transfer Cam Calhoun and true freshman Jay Timmons for playing time.
Calhoun has been around the block a few times, so his veteran presence will be big for the Buckeyes. Timmons, meanwhile, has flashed in his short time as well. If there is going to be a non-receiver freshman to shed his black stripe next, Timmons would be a great bet.
B.I.A. Reloaded
Ohio State’s secondary regards itself as the Best In America, essentially downplaying the DBU label that it and LSU continue to fight over. While the cornerback room doesn’t have to replace a first-round pick (unless Igbinosun is a surprise, as Damon Arnette was back in 2020), it has to replace two starters. Mathews, Sanchez, Kelly, Clahoun, and Timmons look to be up to the challenge.
When the Spring Game rolls around on April 18, the play of the corners will be under a microscope. It won’t just be to see how the room looks after all of the turnover, but also how they respond to an uber-accurate passer in Sayin or the all-around-athlete type in Tavien St. Clair. We won’t judge them if they get Moss’d by Smith once or twice, but if someone can make a play on the future top-five pick, it will go a long way toward reassuring fans and coaches that the cornerback room is going to be just fine.
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