Entering 2017, Ohio State coaches expected junior Denzel Ward to carry on the standard of top cornerback play under Urban Meyer and Kerry Coombs.
Ward's sterling campaign continued Monday, when the Thorpe Award announced him as a semifinalist for the award given annually to the nation's top defensive back.
So far this season, Ward has amassed 10 passes defended (13th nationally and second in the Big Ten), nine pass breakups, and one interception. He's also chipped in 20 tackles and 2.5 tackles for a loss.
The full list:
| PLAYER | SCHOOL |
|---|---|
| MARCUS ALLEN | PENN STATE |
| QUIN BLANDING | VIRGINIA |
| JALEN DAVIS | UTAH STATE |
| DeSHON ELLIOTT | TEXAS |
| MINKAH FITZPATRICK | ALABAMA |
| GRANT HALEY | PENN STATE |
| DERWIN JAMES | FLORIDA STATE |
| JEREMY McDUFFIE | DUKE |
| PARRY NICKERSON | TULANE |
| JUSTIN REID | STANFORD |
| DOMINICK SANDERS | GEORGIA |
| LEVI WALLACE | ALABAMA |
| DENZEL WARD | OHIO STATE |
Correction: The Ohio State release stated Ward as a finalist. He is actually a semifinalist. The article has been amended to reflect that.
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