Ohio State's cornerback room is a bright spot on its 2026 roster, with no uncertainty and intrigue in how the team will develop over the next six months. The team's starting cornerbacks will not be named Denzel Burke or Davison Igbinosun for the first time since 2020, and it's time to see if the good work done by Tim Walton on the recruiting trail and in the transfer portal can translate into elite play in the secondary.
One player to watch is Jermaine Mathews, who has been the best cornerback in coverage since he arrived and has been the room's most consistent player. However, his ceiling is yet to be determined, and he has yet to make his mark on the room.
Another intriguing player is Devin Sanchez, who got his feet wet in 2025 and has the potential to become a starting cornerback in the next two years. The development of freshmen Jay Timmons and Jordan Thomas will also be fascinating to watch, as they have the potential to disrupt the natural pecking order in the room.
The addition of SEC transfers Cam Calhoun and Dominick Kelly will also be interesting, as they provide more options for Walton to be creative with his deployments. The team has not had a true rotation at cornerback in a while, and it remains to be seen if we will see that happen this season.
Overall, Ohio State's cornerback room is a bright spot on its roster, with a mix of experienced and promising young players. The team's success will depend on how well these players develop and perform over the next few months.
