The Ohio State Buckeyes defense was always going to take some kind of step back this season. Losing eight starters from last year’s team will do that to any program, even one with the talent Ohio State recruits every year. The Buckeyes did return a couple of players with starting experience, and one of the biggest names among them is cornerback Devin Sanchez.

Sanchez came into the year expected to take a leap as a sophomore and become a lockdown cornerback for Ohio State football. That’s at least what the Buckeyes need him to be. It hasn’t happened yet through five games, and head coach Ryan Day addressed it ahead of Saturday’s home game against Maryland.

Devin Sanchez has had a rough start to Big Ten play

The last couple of weeks have been tough for Sanchez against Illinois and Iowa. He’s been flagged twice in each game. Against Illinois specifically, Sanchez gave up seven catches for 116 yards, according to Pro Football Focus.

Those aren’t the numbers you expect from a player who came out of high school as the top cornerback in the class of 2025. He just hasn’t been that lockdown corner for the Buckeyes through the first two weeks of conference play.

Day didn’t shy away from what needs to happen. He was direct about the penalties, the technique, and what the coaching staff expects from Sanchez going forward.

“I think he’s competitive, and he has to have a little bit more composure at the top of the route for sure,” Day said. “I would say some of those are close, you know, but hey, I mean they get called, so you got to own them, and so you got to make the adjustment. And we like the fact that he’s aggressive, but we can’t get called for penalties like that. So we got to do a good job with our technique.”

Coach Walt has got a plan for it, and we’ll attack it. I think his approach has been good, but I think he would tell you that he wants to play better too. So this is a big week for him to step up against some really talented receivers from Maryland to take the next step in his progression because you know he’s played for us, but like we need him to be that lockdown corner that we all know he can be.”

Ohio State needs a lockdown cornerback opposite Jermaine Matthews Jr.

After losing Davison Igbinosun from last year’s team, the Buckeyes need a top cornerback to step up opposite Jermaine Mathews Jr. That was the plan for Sanchez going into the season, and it’s still the plan five games in.

The physical tools are there. Sanchez is listed at 6-foot-2, 199 pounds, and he’s very athletic for his size. He has the build to be that lockdown guy for Ohio State’s defense. The production and the discipline just haven’t caught up to the talent yet.

Day’s comments publicly are a challenge to Sanchez to be just that. The head coach acknowledged some of the calls were close, but he also made it clear the penalties have to stop. It’s a fair message for a young player who still has plenty of room to grow.

Maryland brings a big test for Devin Sanchez on Saturday

Sanchez is going to have a big opportunity in front of him against Maryland on Saturday at home. The Terrapins bring a good receiving corps to Columbus, and it starts with wide receiver Chris Durr.

Durr has 42 catches for 461 yards and four touchdowns this season. He leads the way for a Terrapins offense that also has other weapons like Caleb Webb and Na’eem  Abdul-Rahim Gladding to account for. Maryland is going to test the Ohio State secondary even if they’re not a good team overall, and there’s a good chance Sanchez will see plenty of targets coming his way.

It’s still just five games into the season, and there’s plenty of time for Sanchez to bounce back. He’s going to have a chance to show he can be the kind of player the Buckeyes need him to be. It needs to start Saturday against Maryland with Indiana to follow.