Denzel Burke is running it back.
Burke announced Wednesday he will return for his senior season at Ohio State, where he will be a fourth-year starter in 2024.
Chasing Legacy and Greatness. They are going to remember my name. Thank you God!! pic.twitter.com/83fwiHextj
— Denzel Burke (@King10Burke) January 10, 2024
This past season, Burke collected an impressive nine pass breakups with 24 tackles, three tackles for loss, one interception and one forced fumble. For his performance, Burke was named a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, an honor presented to the best defensive back in college football. Additionally, Big Ten coaches awarded Burke with first-team all-conference honors, while the media awarded him with second-team honors. The Walter Camp Football Foundation named Burke a second-team All-American.
In 2021, Burke was a freshman All-American, according to ESPN, The Athletic and 247Sports. He was the first true freshman to start a season opener on defense for the Buckeyes since Andy Katzenmoyer in 1996 and collected 35 tackles, 12 pass breakups, one interception and one touchdown in 13 games.
Burke suffered a sophomore slump in 2022, a year also marred with bumps, bruises and a broken hand for the Phoenix, Arizona, native. He broke up five passes on the year but was not as consistent in coverage as he was a true freshman.
He bounced back in a big way as a junior, helping the Buckeyes produce the No. 1 passing defense in college football this past season, allowing 145.9 yards per game. Arguably the best player on Ohio State’s defense in 2023, Burke likely would have been an early-round pick if he entered the 2024 NFL draft.
Instead, Burke will play one more season at Ohio State with his sights set on becoming a top-10 pick in 2025 as well as helping the team achieve its goals of beating Michigan, winning a Big Ten championship and winning a national championship.
“I want to be a top-10 pick. But not only that, I want to have something to show for it down the road,” Burke said before the Cotton Bowl. “To be able to show my kids and my family when I was at Ohio State, we won something. That’s playing a big factor for me.”
With Burke back in the fold, Ohio State will return both of its starting outside cornerbacks from last season with Davison Igbinosun entering his junior year. The Buckeyes return their entire starting trio of cornerbacks if Jordan Hancock stays for his senior year, though he has not yet announced his decision one way or the other.
Assuming Hancock stays, those three will lead what could be the deepest unit on Ohio State’s 2024 roster with Jermaine Mathews Jr., Calvin Simpson-Hunt and Lorenzo Styles Jr. all back for their second year as Buckeyes. The Buckeyes also added five-star cornerback Aaron Scott Jr. and four-stars Bryce West and Miles Lockhart in the 2024 class.
