Spring Recap: Cornerbacks Showcased Talent Throughout Camp

With spring football now in the rearview mirror for Ohio State, it’s time to look back at what happened with each position group and where things currently stand for the Buckeyes. We continue our series with the cornerbacks.

Quick Position Overview

Senior Davison Igbinosun will be a four-year starter at cornerback — with the last three of those at Ohio State. Junior Jermaine Mathews worked his way into the rotation last year, essentially making him a returning starter. Sophomore Aaron Scott has plenty of potential and the proper tenacity. Freshman Devin Sanchez was the top cornerback prospect in the 2025 recruiting class.

Expectations Going In

The expectations going in were that Davison Igbinosun would be doing as much watching as practicing. Jermaine Mathews — if he was at cornerback full time — was expected to be a standout. Aaron Scott and Devin Sanchez were both going to be in line for a ton of snaps. There were questions about redshirt freshman Bryce West and whether he would be at cornerback or nickel.

Reality Coming Out

Bryce West was at nickel, which freed up Devin Sanchez and Aaron Scott to get reps with both the twos and ones throughout practice. Jermaine Mathews had a very good spring and was getting his hands on footballs routinely. Davison Igbinosun wasn’t all that busy, even when he was on the field. Quarterbacks avoided him for the most part when the media was on hand.

Any Surprises?

While it shouldn’t necessarily be a surprise, it was unexpected to see Lorenzo Styles, Jr. playing some cornerback in the spring game while Jermaine Mathews was at nickel. The reason it isn’t a surprise is because any nickel on the roster should also be able to play cornerback when asked. This makes a relatively thin depth chart deeper by three with Styles, Bryce West, and Miles Lockhart.

Unanswered Question

How deep will the cornerback rotation be? Davison Igbinosun and Jermaine Mathews could be the best starting duo in college football, but 90% of the rest of the nation wouldn’t mind having Aaron Scott and Devin Sanchez starting for them this season. The Buckeyes rotated Mathews in among starters Igbinosun and Denzel Burke towards the second half of the season last year. Scott and Sanchez will try to do the same this year. Can one — or both — earn a spot in the rotation when the games are still in doubt?

Devin Sanchez Ohio State Buckeyes Cornerback — Devin Sanchez

So Now What?

So now the Buckeyes wait for true freshman Jordyn Woods to arrive in June. Ohio State lists Woods at 6-foot-4 and 190 pounds, which is generally unrealistic for the position. Once he gets to Ohio State, he’ll probably check in at 6-foot-3, which means he’s closer to 6-foot-2-and-a-half. But that still means he’s a uniquely sized cornerback prospect. Woods committed to Cincinnati last June but flipped a few weeks after receiving an offer from the Buckeyes in November.

One Concern

Is Davison Igbinosun still going to be eyeballed by officials? Igbinosun is a very physical corner who has gained a reputation as a handsy cornerback. Cornerbacks coach Tim Walton has continued to work with Igbinosun on eliminating the need to grab, which entails better footwork and better preparation for when a receiver reaches the top of his route. Walton is confident that Igbinosun will be just fine this year. The refs will still have their eyes on him this year, at least early.

Are We Sure?

Are we sure this position is going to be as good as assumed? There are no major questions about Davison Igbinosun. He’s been good enough to start at Ohio State for two years now, so there’s no reason to worry about year three. Jermaine Mathews has seen the field in high-stakes situations each of his first two years. He was outstanding all spring long, coming up with interceptions on a near-daily basis. But immediately behind them are a sophomore who played in seven games last year and a true freshman who has only been in Ohio Stadium to visit or practice. Had Igbinosun left for the NFL, one of Aaron Scott or Devin Sanchez would likely be starting — and there probably wouldn’t be much concern from fans or media. But should there be more concern at this position?

Quotable

“It’s been a good mental thing having to get myself ready to go against guys that are 20, 21 years old. You know, being 18, they don’t care about that up here. So, it’s developing yourself to have a great mindset early. Having that grown-man mindset at 18 years old is really important because up here, they don’t really care about feelings. So, it’s about just coming up here, being the man that you think you are, and having to go out there and prove it.” — Cornerback Devin Sanchez on the mentality needed to succeed as a freshman.