As Denzel Ward stood atop the podium inside Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium, freshly crowned a state champion in the 200-meter dash at the OHSAA Track and Field State Championships, the 2015 Ohio State football signee had a big smile on his face as he panned the crowd. It finally hit him he’d be spending his next four years on this particular campus.
It wasn’t in the sport he’d be playing in college, but winning a state championship at the place he’ll call home over the next four years held special meaning.
“It just means a lot,” Ward said following his win. “I just can’t wait to come back down here and play football with the rest of the team.”
Ward’s state-championship winning time was 21.65 seconds. He, along with three teammates, took eighth earlier in the day in the 4x200-meter relay and, if not for a false start during Friday’s preliminary races that resulted in a disqualification, Ward could have claimed another state title in the 100-meter dash.
“I’m just glad I ended on a good note against those other fast friends,” Ward said. “I just feel blessed.”
Video from the end of Ward's race. He won by .11 of a second. He's in Lane 6 in white. pic.twitter.com/O9UfXcK0Sj
— Tim Shoemaker (@TimShoemaker) June 6, 2015
With his high school track career now in his the rearview mirror, Ward can focus all of his attention to football, where he’s one of the Buckeyes’ fastest players in the 2015 class. A four-star defensive back out of Nordonia High School, Ward said he’s excited for what his future holds in Columbus.
“I just can’t wait to get down here and gain weight, start working out with the team and learn the program, get on the field and start playing,” he said.
Ward said he’s currently at 175 pounds (athletes often shed weight during track season for obvious reasons) and the Ohio State staff wants him up around 190. Keeping his top-end speed shouldn’t be much of an issue, however, Ward said.
In addition to getting his Buckeyes football career started, Ward is also looking forward to playing for his new position coach, Kerry Coombs.
“I talk to Coach Coombs every Monday. We talk about how track is going and about football,” Ward said. “We talk about getting down here and working. Me and him have a pretty good relationship going into it.”
The class of 2015 officially begins its journey as Ohio State football players next week. Ward is looking forward to that opportunity.
“I’m definitely getting excited," he said. "I’ve got football coming up in like a week so I definitely can’t wait to get back down here and start playing football again.”
