Top-three Buckeyes cornerbacks expected to rotate against Hoosiers

COLUMBUS — Quicker to read offenses, more hands on passes and, perhaps most importantly, healthier. That’s the spark notes on the Ohio State cornerback room heading into the 2023 season.

It’s a group that’s spearheaded by returners Denzel Burke and Jordan Hancock — both of whom were held back by injuries last year — as well as Ole Miss transfer Davison Igbinosun, who started 10 games as a true freshman in 2022.

“All three of them have earned playing time,” second-year Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles said Tuesday.

“I see a rotation. Maybe slide Jordan into ‘nickel’ some, get him some reps there. But they all will play. And you know how it goes with corners — as you get through a game, it starts to become, ‘Who’s hot?’ You go with who’s hot.”

Ohio State cornerback Denzel Burke lines up against Michigan State wide receiver Jayden Reed during the 2022 season. (Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK)

Hancock, along with fellow cornerbacks Ryan Turner and Jyaire Brown, has been cross-training at “nickel,” a slot safety or cornerback position, this offseason. Ohio State cornerbacks and secondary coach Tim Walton explained earlier this month that having that flexibility to move corners like Hancock inside will come in handy, not only in case of injury but also in terms of finding ways to get the Buckeyes’ 11 best players on the field at once.

Sophomore “unicorn” safety Sonny Styles is one of those 11. Just because Styles is currently penciled in as the starting nickel safety, doesn’t mean he can’t play with Burke, Igbinosun and Hancock.

“Sonny, he can go to different places,” Knowles explained. “We can be in a six-DB package, so Sonny can stay in there. Sonny could be in there in a linebacker capacity. There are a lot of roles to keep him involved and in the game.”

Styles is versatile, and so is Hancock, who is already one of the best off corners Burke said he’s seen in his career.

“His cerebral is top notch,” Burke said. “He knows how to see things smoothly. He’s jumping routes. And he’s physical.”

Hancock was hampered by a preseason hamstring injury last year that cost him the first half of the season. Even when he returned, he wasn’t 100%. His explosion wasn’t where it could have been, he admitted, and that’s not surprising given he missed eight weeks of practice.

Burke finished his sophomore campaign strong. That said, he experienced early-season troubles of his own, albeit less serious injury-wise. Burke first dealt with a shoulder issue. Subsequently, he gave up a combined seven catches on 12 targets for 151 yards against Notre Dame and Arkansas State during the first two weeks of the season, according to Pro Football Focus. Then, soon after that, he went down with a hand injury that called for mid-week surgery and, ultimately, for Burke to miss the Wisconsin game.

Unlike this time last year, both Hancock and Burke are in tip-top shape entering the opener.

Day said this offseason that he and his Ohio State staff have started to see Hancock’s potential pop. Likewise, Burke — who earned freshman All-American honors in 2021 — proved to be one of the Buckeyes’ top performers in winter workouts, spring ball, summer workouts and training camp.

“My confidence is probably at an all-time high,” Burke said earlier this month. “You gain your confidence by going out here and guarding Marvin Harrison [Jr.] and Emeka Egbuka every day. They gonna get you better, and I’m gonna make them better, too.”

The cherry on top is that they’re joined by Igbinosun, who might have been Ohio State’s best get in the transfer portal this year. Since joining the Buckeyes this winter, Igbinosun has earned the No. 1 jersey, the same number worn by former Buckeyes standout corner Jeff Okudah, who Igbinosun is trying to one-up during his time in Columbus.

Ohio State cornerback Davison Igbinosun trots out onto the outdoor practice fields of the Woody Hayes Athletic Center the first day of training camp. (Matt Parker/Lettermen Row)

Standing 6-foot-2, 187 pounds, Igbinosun has similar length as Okudah. The sophomore is coming off an action-packed first year of college football with Ole Miss, where he totaled 37 tackles and five pass breakups while allowing 25 catches for 259 receiving yards on 40 targets, per PFF. Since, he’s only improved, according to his new coaches and teammates.

“I’m so glad we got him on our team,” Harrison said. “I think he brings a different element to that DB room, just the dog mentality that he has to go out there and compete every day. He’s one of the hardest working DBs that I’ve been around.”

Hancock said he and Igbinosun feed off each other’s energy. Burke emphasized that the trio of cornerbacks are going to play with great technique and talk some trash in the process.

“I think when you look at probably Denzel, Jordan, Davison, those guys have probably the most consistent this camp,” Day said last week.

All three are going to play. They’ve known that for a while. What that looks like? That’s a secret.

“As much as I want to tell you, I can’t,” Burke said earlier this month. “I do know. I just can’t tell nobody.”

Igbinosun isn’t concerned with the three-way push for playing time.

“Competition breeds greatness,” he said a few weeks ago. “I know that the best players are going to be on the field. I’m just ready to compete. I’m just embracing the competition.”

So are Burke and Hancock.

Together, they could help return the Ohio State secondary to its “Best in America” status. That “BIA” pursuit begins Saturday at Indiana.

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