Battle-tested Denzel Burke poised for breakout junior year

The summer offseason is in full swing, and Lettermen Row is trying to survive it with our annual Position Week breakdowns. By the time all nine units and coaching staff at Ohio State have been covered, training camp and media days will nearly have arrived, and the return of football in the Horseshoe will be just around the corner. We’re continuing with our ninth and final positional week with the Buckeyes cornerbacks unit.

COLUMBUS — Anyone could see the potential of Denzel Burke as he rose to become a starter at cornerback for Ohio State in his freshman season of 2021.

Yes, he was young and occasionally made some youthful mistakes. But he also was predominantly healthy, and thus stepped up boldly at times, whether it was in a receiver’s face or a reporter’s microphone.

Then came last season, and to put it mildly, life was not fair to Burke. Call it the sophomore jinx. Call it snakebit. Or just call it like it was, an injury-plagued season through which Burke persevered despite knowing better than anyone he rarely was at his best just because of the physical challenges he faced.

A shoulder sprain, an ankle sprain, a broken bone in one of his hands, finger jams – his list of maladies stretched literally from head to toe, because not being even close to 100% physically at a position that demands so much in that realm, it messes with a man’s mind.

“I went through a rollercoaster of emotions last year,” Burke said. “But God had a plan for me. I learned a lot last year, and I’m using everything to my advantage this year.”

It showed during spring practices a few months ago when he looked usually like the Burke of old (hahaha, of ‘21) but with a veteran’s approach.

“I just wanted to finish off strong and have some momentum going into this year,” Burke said. “That’s what I did.”

It’s that blending of a strong freshman debut followed by a season of hard knocks followed by a winter and spring of rededication to being the most fit physically and in the mental aspects of the game that he plans to parlay into a stout third season.

“Two years in college going into my third year, I’ve learned a lot of stuff on and off the field, the mental side really plays a big part in the game, especially at corner, in my opinion probably the hardest position on the field,” Burke said.

He knows his potential.

“When I’m healthy, sky’s the limit,” Burke said.

His position coach Tim Walton, now the coordinator of the pass defense, can see the potential in Burke, too. Walton played the position at Ohio State, had a long tenure as an assistant coach in the NFL, and is now in his second year as an assistant at his alma mater.

During a recent segment of Tradition Talk, produced by the multimedia arm of the Ohio State football program, Walton spoke with Burke about the secondary’s challenge this season to return legitimacy to the moniker of ‘BIA’ (“Best in America”) this year and about what kind of legacy Burke personally wants to leave.

“I want to be known as a great teammate, as someone you can really talk to,” Burke said. “Obviously I want to leave a great legacy playing the game at corner. I want to leave here as one of the best corners ever to play the game at Ohio State.

“And just take care of the name on my back and, you know, put my name on the wall, and live my life.”

Walton smiled, reminding Burke that there’s no better place to leave one’s mark.

“The history and the tradition here is second to none,” Walton told him. “So to have a chance to add your name to the group of guys who have come before you is an awesome thing, man, an awesome experience.

“So look forward to this year to try to make those dreams come true for you.”

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