With five-star defensive back Jontae Gilbert no longer part of Ohio State’s 2025 recruiting class, the Buckeyes have turned their attention to another top cornerback in that cycle.
Five-star Texas cornerback Devin Sanchez released a top-10 list on Thursday, consisting of Ohio State, Alabama, Michigan, LSU, Alabama, USC, Texas, Florida State, Oregon, Oklahoma and Texas A&M.
wheres home?? https://t.co/JJDXFRuL6h
— Devin Sanchez (@Devin2416) August 3, 2023
While Sanchez may still be considering 10 schools, the Buckeyes and Crimson Tide have emerged as the frontrunners in the Texas product’s recruitment.
“I tell my parents, coming out of Texas is best for me because I feel like that’s where the best DBs go,” Sanchez told reporters after camping with Ohio State on June 20. “No disrespect to all those Texas schools down there, I go down there, I see them all and have fun. But for me and the talent I have, coming to a school like Ohio State or Alabama, that’s where I’m going to get developed. My plan is to go (to college for) three years like I said.”
Sanchez has built a strong relationship with Ohio State secondary coach Tim Walton and plans to return to Columbus later this fall for a gameday visit. While Sanchez has relished that he’d be going against top wide receiver competition daily if he chose to attend OSU, he’s also familiar with the Buckeyes’ pedigree of developing top defensive backs.
“An Ohio State cornerback, he’s good at everything,” Sanchez said. “You can press, play off, that’s what they like to do. If you can do all of that and be great at it, you’ve got a chance to be on that cornerback wall and you’ve got a chance to be DBU here. There’s not that many schools where you can call it DBU, but Ohio State’s probably the No. 1 school. Just look at the guys in the league. It speaks for itself.”
Sanchez is ranked as the No. 2 cornerback and No. 7 overall prospect in 247Sports’ composite rankings for the 2025 class.
Booker Pickett Jr. lists Buckeyes in top 5
Four-star 2024 defensive end Booker Pickett Jr. has also included Ohio State in a top schools list, as the Florida prospect narrowed his recruitment to five teams on Friday.
??? pic.twitter.com/5MKeO4E795
— Booker B9 Pickett jr. (@pickett_booker) August 4, 2023
Ohio State, South Carolina, Georgia, Miami and Florida State are the teams listed. Pickett did not take any summer official visits but will take his visits this fall, including one to Columbus. Pickett last visited OSU in April for the Buckeyes’ spring game.
“Ohio State has always been high on my list,” Pickett Jr. told On3. “Their plan for me is what makes them stand out and they develop players well up there.”
Per 247Sports’ composite rankings, Pickett Jr. is considered the 190th-ranked prospect and the 13th-best edge player in the 2024 class. In Jim Knowles’ system, he’d be an ideal candidate to play the Jack position.
Pickett had an otherworldly junior season for Wharton High School (Tampa, Florida), racking up an eye-popping 30 sacks.
Bolden to announce commitment Saturday
Five-star Georgia safety KJ Bolden, one of Ohio State’s top remaining targets in the 2024 class, will make his long-awaited college commitment at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
Save this.
— Josh Newberg (@josh_newberg) August 1, 2023
The link to the KJ Bolden commitment.
Saturday @ 7:30pm EST
HERE: https://t.co/h8MeD2txu3 pic.twitter.com/FQB1aZjwHp
Bolden will choose from Ohio State, Florida State, Georgia, Alabama and Auburn. The No. 1-rated safety in 2024 has played his recruitment close to the vest, with all five of his contenders thinking there could be a shot he picks their school on Saturday.
While OSU felt confident about its chances of landing Bolden after his official visit in June, other schools have picked up steam in the recruiting industry over the last few weeks, including Florida State, Georgia and Auburn.
Ohio State is likely a long shot to win the Bolden recruitment on Saturday, but one way or another, the Buckeyes will have their answer in about 24 hours.
