Kendall Sheffield's physical gifts have enamored coaches, teammates, fans and media almost since the day of his arrival in Columbus.
Listed at 6-0, 193 pounds on Ohio State's official roster, when the former five-star prospect and nation's top junior college transfer stepped on the practice field of the Woody Hayes Athletic Center for the first time, he looked more like a linebacker, or in-the-box NFL safety than a speedy cornerback.
"Have you seen him?" Damon Arnette asked the media shortly after Sheffield's arrival on campus. "He looks like an action figure."
Arnette wasn't exactly wrong. Sheffield's size, muscle definition, length, and clear athleticism made him look almost unrealistic or superhuman, as if he was assembled in a lab.
Here is Ohio State's junior college transfer Kendall Sheffield. He plays cornerback. pic.twitter.com/th5HaJFjhE
— Tim Shoemaker (@TimShoemaker) March 22, 2017
But Sheffield's imposing physique isn't the only, or even the most intimidating thing about him. That would be his speed.
Most knew Sheffield was fast. In high school, he posted the nation's top time in the 110 hurdles and returned punts at his JUCO, Blinn College. However, I don't think many expected him to be arguably the fastest player on a team full of world-class sprinters, much less set records for Ohio State's track team, but that's exactly what happened.
“I heard he was fast, then I went and watched him. I thought someone was chasing him with a knife or something.”– Taver Johnson
When a photo surfaced of the team's top measurables, including 40-yard dash times, Sheffield's times was listed at a 4.25 – just 0.02 seconds behind Denzel Ward, who was widely considered the fastest player on the team.
Sheffield confirmed that speed a couple of months ago, running a 6.63-second 60-yard dash, breaking the Ohio State school record of 6.65 seconds previously set by Jonathan Burrell in 1995.
“I heard he was fast, then I went and watched him," new cornerbacks coach Taver Johnson said. "I thought someone was chasing him with a knife or something.”
Buckeye fans saw Sheffield's athleticism displayed in spurts. The expectation was that as a junior college transfer and a former five-star Alabama signee, he would be game-ready upon his arrival in Columbus.
He was able to contribute, as he emerged as Ohio State's No. 3 option at cornerback, but there were definitely some growing pains. He was responsible for thee different pass interference penalties during the UNLV game – which Urban Meyer called "awful" – and got beat in coverage a number of times throughout the season.
"I had some ups and downs, but I learned from it for next year," Sheffield said. "I’m going to have a big target on my back. That one year gave me a lot of experience."
It wasn't always pretty, but with that one season under his belt, playing real, meaningful snaps, Sheffield is now one of the most experienced and battle-tested corners on a very young unit, and Johnson is moving forward with him and Arnette as his starting cornerbacks.
"Have you seen him? He looks like an action figure."– Damon Arnette
“Damon as well as Kendall, they have game experience," Johnson said. "You cannot take that away.”
He may be entering just his second year in Columbus, but Sheffield is no longer new here. He's one of the established guys on the team and the Buckeyes will be looking for him to add stability, experience and leadership to a young position.
There's still a long way to go until the Buckeyes take the field in the fall, but Johnson said he's already seen growth and more confidence in Sheffield this spring.
“That’s what happens when you’re around this place for a year, playing and things like that.” Johnson said. “I think he’s gotten settled in and understands the expectations, and that’s everything."
