High School

5-star Ohio State football commit houses 102-yard kick return

Nation's No. 1 rated corner Devin Sanchez gives nationally ranked North Shore a first quarter spark on senior night in Texas high school football showdown

Andy Buhler

North Shore's Devin Sanchez celebrates in a rivalry showdown with Atascocita on Oct. 25, 2024.
North Shore's Devin Sanchez celebrates in a rivalry showdown with Atascocita on Oct. 25, 2024. / Photo by Rob August, SBLive

The nation's top-rated cornerback broke off a highlight befitted his pedigree in a Texas high school football game on Friday night.

Five-star Ohio State commit Devin Sanchez took a kickoff 102 yards for touchdown in the first quarter of North Shore's district blowout of King.

The 6-foot-2, 170-pound defensive back did it in response to his opposition's first touchdown of the game, which gave the Mustangs a three-touchdown lead early in a 42-14 win at Galena Park ISD Stadium in Houston.

It was a fitting play for a sentimental and honorable night for the long-decorated Sanchez, who has been committed to Ohio State since Jan. 6.

Not only was it senior night, but Sanchez was also announced as a Navy All-American.

Reps from the annual East vs. West game presented Sanchez with a jersey for the nationally televised showcase, which takes place on Jan. 11 at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

Sanchez —the nation's No. 5 overall prospect and No. 2 recruit in Texas per 247 Sports — is the most decorated player on a talent-laden North Shore roster that includes four-star Colorado-bound receiver Quanell X Farrakhan Jr., four-star LSU-committed linebacker Charles Ross and three-star Rice pledge D'Andre Hardeman Jr.

But the best cornerbacks often see the least action, as offenses tinker passing attacks around avoiding throwing in his direction.

That hasn't stopped Sanchez from shining for the Mustangs (9-0), the No. 7 ranked team in the county. He entered the season as High School on SI's No. 3 best returning player in the state.

The Mustangs' Week 10 win was much less dramatic than its Week 9 comeback over 6A District 23 rival Atasocita, which required a last-minute scoring drive to complete a 27-23 comeback win over nationally ranked neighboring foe Atascocita.

North Shore, which has lost the last two UIL 6A Division I state championships to fellow national power Duncanville, is one win away from repeating as district champion if it beats Summer Creek (7-1, 4-1) on the road on Nov. 8.

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-- Andy Buhler | andy@scorebooklive.com | @sblivetx

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Andy Buhler
ANDY BUHLER

Andy Buhler is a Portland, Oregon-based sportswriter with more than nine years of experience covering high school sports across the country. He's covered the likes of Paolo Banchero and Tari Eason, served on state tournament seeding committees and launched the SBLive/Sports Illustrated Power 25 national boys basketball rankings. He has covered everything from the Final Four, MLS in Atlanta to local velodrome before diving into the world of preps. His bylines can be found in The News Tribune (Tacoma, Washington), The Associated Press, The Columbian (Vancouver, Washington), The Oregonian and more. He holds a journalism degree from Gonzaga.

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