Confidence manifests itself in many ways for a football player.
For some, it simply shines through in their movements on the field. For others, confidence might look like a vocal leadership role on offense or defense.
For junior cornerback Denzel Burke, when he’s confident, he’s talking trash to the man he’s lined up against. And this fall he’s been talking more trash than ever.
“If I’m talking trash out there, I’m confident that, whoever is in front of me, you’re not doing a damn thing,” Burke said.
With the storyline surrounding the Arizona native all offseason being his desire for a bounceback year, he’s looking to exude all the verbal tenacity he can – because it means he’ll have been playing well.
“He had a great spring,” Ohio State cornerbacks coach Tim Walton said in May. “He did a great job. He’s locked in, he’s our leader over there.”
While Burke feels all three of Ohio State’s top cornerbacks — Burke, junior Jordan Hancock and sophomore Davison Igbinosun — are willing to be “in your face, talking trash,” he believes he’s the best of the bunch at rattling opponents with his words.
“If I’m talking trash out there, I’m confident that, whoever is in front of me, you’re not doing a damn thing.”
It’s also about holding themselves to a higher standard than they performed at a year ago. Yes, injuries plagued both Burke and Hancock, but not a single one of the team’s cornerbacks posted an interception in 2022.
“We remind ourselves of that every day,” Burke said. “That’s not our brand. We’re going to bring that back. It’s just about getting better every single day.”
In camp, according to Burke, every single scholarship corner has had at least one pick. He got a pick-six himself, the only one thus far for the defense.
Burke’s trash-talking ways fit his play style. His favorite coverage to run is press-man, placing him right in the face of his opposition to utilize a physical bump-and-run technique.
“Just put me in the boundary, let me run press-man. That’s me,” Burke said.
All of Ohio State’s receivers have heard Burke speak some smack, with the exception of Harrison. There’s too much mutual respect there, per Burke, especially given Harrison is widely considered the best pass-catcher in the country entering 2023.
Of course, a stronger voice with which to jaw at wideouts also lends itself to leadership in the locker room. Burke's taken it upon himself to not just better his play every day, but that of those around him as well.
“He’s speaking up on the little things,” Hancock said. “When young guys step out of line, he’ll speak up. That’s going to make our room even better, so he’s been a really good leader for our squad.”
Burke’s given a particular amount of sage advice to Lorenzo Styles Jr., a fellow junior and Notre Dame transfer who is switching to corner after spending his first two collegiate seasons at receiver. He’s reminded Styles of the different mentality it takes at the defensive position.
“You could be having a great game, covering well the entire game and get bombed one time, you’re going to get a lot of hate for that,” Styles said. “So you have to go with the highs and lows at the position, and you have to have a next-play mindset.”
Now it’ll be a matter of translating self-assuredness into production for Burke. Injuries hindered him a year ago after a breakout freshman campaign in 2021, when he had 12 pass breakups and an interception.
He’s emerged as the team’s top corner for 2023 off a strong spring and rave reviews from Walton and other coaches. Now if he can put his money where his mouth is, the entire secondary will profit.
“My confidence is probably at an all-time high, the highest it’s ever been,” Burke said. “And confidence is a big thing, man. If you don’t have that, it’s going to be a long day for you. And you gain confidence by going out here and guarding Marvin Harrison, Emeka Egbuka every day. They’re going to get you better and I’m going to get them better, too.”
