Riley Pettijohn
The Ohio State Buckeyes are preparing to welcome a talented group of freshmen for the 2025 college football season. Head coach Ryan Day has once again secured a strong recruiting class, highlighted by five-star defensive back Devin Sanchez and five-star linebacker Riley Pettijohn—both of whom have the potential to make an immediate impact.
After capturing a national championship, Ohio State is experiencing significant roster turnover, with several key players heading to the NFL. As a result, younger players will need to step up, and early reports indicate that Sanchez and Pettijohn are already making an impression.
According to On3 Sports analysts Steve Wiltfong and Pete Nakos, the two highly touted defenders are standing out in the early stages of their Buckeye careers.
“[Linebacker] Riley Pettijohn and [cornerback] Devin Sanchez are doing very, very well. The freaks of the crew. [Strength] Coach Mick [Mariotti] has called them dudes’ dudes,” they wrote. “Devin has the length, athleticism, and mindset, too. He’s all about it.”
Their strong early performance is encouraging for Ohio State, as both players were ranked among the best defensive prospects in the nation. With linebacker Cody Simon and cornerback Denzel Burke both moving on, there will be opportunities for Sanchez and Pettijohn to step into meaningful roles.
However, with new defensive coordinator Matt Patricia taking over, the exact makeup of Ohio State’s 2025 defense remains uncertain. Patricia will determine how the pieces fit together, but if Sanchez and Pettijohn continue to impress, they could see significant playing time as true freshmen.
