Breaking: True Freshman Cornerback Devin Sanchez Loses His Black Stripe, Already Being Dubbed “The Jeremiah Smith of the Defense”
In Columbus, where championship standards are forged through competition and tradition, a new name is already commanding the attention of coaches, teammates, and fans alike. Devin Sanchez, Ohio State’s true freshman cornerback, has officially shed his Black Stripe—a symbolic rite of passage for Buckeye newcomers—and in doing so, has announced his arrival as the next defensive phenom in scarlet and gray.
With that simple act, Sanchez isn’t just a freshman anymore. He’s a Buckeye. And by all early accounts, he’s much more than that. Around the program, whispers have already grown into bold declarations. He’s being called “The Jeremiah Smith of the defense,” a reference to the electrifying wide receiver who took college football by storm as a true freshman the previous season. Sanchez, it seems, may be following a similar path—one that leads straight to stardom.
But for Sanchez, the accolades aren’t the focus. They never were. “Anybody can say, ‘Oh, he’s going to play this year!’ But I actually gotta prove it,” he said shortly after losing the stripe. “I just gotta come out here, work, and earn that spot.” It’s a mindset that matches perfectly with the culture in Columbus. Humble but hungry. Talented, but not entitled. At a program that prides itself on turning five-star recruits into first-round draft picks, Sanchez is already showing he’s cut from that same elite cloth.
From the day he arrived on campus, Sanchez carried expectations that would weigh heavily on most 18-year-olds. Ranked as the number one cornerback in the nation, he chose Ohio State over virtually every powerhouse in the country. His high school tape was filled with explosive breaks on the ball, physical man-to-man coverage, and the kind of instincts that make scouts salivate. But reputation means little in a program built on performance. In the cornerback room, surrounded by veterans and fellow blue-chip athletes, Sanchez was just another name on the board—until he wasn’t.
What’s most impressive about Sanchez’s rise isn’t just his athleticism—though that is undeniable. It’s his maturity. He didn’t arrive in Columbus expecting anything to be handed to him. Instead, he put his head down and went to work. In spring practices, he immediately impressed with his ability to digest complex coverages and match up against top-tier receivers. His footwork, closing speed, and physicality in coverage caught the attention of coaches early. But what truly set him apart was his consistency. Every rep, every drill, he treated like a chance to prove he belonged.
And now, just a few weeks into fall camp, he’s erased the symbolic barrier that separates the freshmen from the rest. The Black Stripe is gone. In its place? Confidence. Respect. Momentum. Veteran players have taken notice. They’ve seen him lock down older receivers in one-on-one drills. They’ve watched him step into the fire and never blink. In a program known for producing elite defensive backs—names like Denzel Ward, Marshon Lattimore, Jeff Okudah, and Shaun Wade—Sanchez already looks the part of the next in line.
The comparison to Jeremiah Smith, one of the most electric young talents in recent Ohio State memory, is more than just a compliment. It’s a challenge. Smith exploded onto the scene as a freshman, making big plays against top defenses and earning national attention before October. Now, Sanchez is being mentioned in the same breath. Not just because of raw talent, but because of his early impact and ability to rise to the moment. Like Smith, he’s not waiting his turn. He’s taking it.
Still, Sanchez knows that college football is not about one week, one stripe, or one comparison. It’s about durability, discipline, and development. It’s about earning every snap, every start, and every accolade. And that’s exactly what he plans to do. “I just want to work. That’s all I’ve ever known,” he told reporters after a recent practice. “If I’m out there, it’s because I earned it. Not because someone said I should be there.” That mentality is already earning praise from the Ohio State coaching staff.
The cornerback room at Ohio State is loaded. Veterans like Davison Igbinosun and Jermaine Mathews Jr. aren’t giving up starting jobs without a fight. Lorenzo Styles Jr. has made a name for himself, too. It’s a competitive, high-talent environment—the kind where only the best rise. And yet, Sanchez isn’t just rising. He’s climbing fast. He’s not being gifted anything; he’s forcing the coaching staff to pay attention. Every time he steps on the field, he makes it harder and harder to keep him off it.
Inside the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, there’s a buzz. Not the kind built on social media hype or recruiting clout, but the kind that grows from within. Players know when someone is different. Coaches know when a freshman doesn’t act like one. And now, they’re seeing it daily with Devin Sanchez. In team meetings, his questions are sharp. On the practice field, his technique is precise. And in the weight room, his effort is relentless. He is, in every sense of the word, a Buckeye already.
And fans? They’re noticing too. The same fanbase that roared for Jeremiah Smith’s emergence last season is now turning its eyes to the other side of the ball. In forums, in tailgate conversations, and across social channels, the conversation is shifting: “Devin Sanchez is next.” The idea that a true freshman could make a meaningful impact on the Ohio State defense no longer feels like a maybe. It feels like a matter of when.
The journey, of course, is just beginning. The season hasn’t started. Real bullets haven’t flown yet. Sanchez still has to prove it under the lights, against top-tier competition, in pressure-packed environments where reputations are made and legacies are born. But if the first eight months of his Ohio State career are any indication, he won’t just be ready—he’ll be dangerous.
Every elite program has that one freshman who sets the tone for a class. That player who embodies the expectations and raises the standard. Last season, that player was Jeremiah Smith. This season, all signs point to Devin Sanchez. The next great Ohio State cornerback may not just be arriving—he might already be here.
As fall camp continues and the Buckeyes gear up for another title run, the defense will be tested. It will bend, it will grow, and it will need playmakers. And in Devin Sanchez, they may have found a freshman ready to meet that moment. Not just with talent, but with the quiet confidence of someone who’s always expected to rise.
The Black Stripe is gone. The spotlight is on. And Devin Sanchez is just getting started.
