Denzel Burke's interception against Youngstown State was a long time coming.
After an up-and-down 2022 season – when he allowed over three more yards per target than he did in 2021, per Pro Football Focus – it was a change in mindset that seemed to get Burke his confidence back, the same type of confidence he had during his impressive freshman campaign in 2021, leading to that interception against the Penguins.
"I had to go get it because it's mine," Burke said following the game. "The only thing that was going through my head was to come down with it. Me grabbing the ball and thinking it was the difference (between last year and this season). ... It felt good. Take the ball and I'm just happy I got the pick."
Denzel Burke said GIMME DAT.pic.twitter.com/NvGxtcxZ2E
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) September 9, 2023
Burke's interception was the first pick of the season for Ohio State's defense and the first by an OSU cornerback since Cam Brown picked one off against Penn State on Oct. 30, 2021. For the junior, it was not only his mindset changing, but his work ethic, preparation, and demeanor as well, leading to two pass breakups in the season opener in Bloomington and then the interception against Youngstown State.
"I'm more hungry (this year). Coming out of my freshman year going into my sophomore year I guess I got a little complacent in the offseason. Wasn't getting extra work in that I needed to get in," Burke said. "But you learn from those moments and going into my third year it's a whole different mindset, a whole new approach. I know what I can do on the field it's just a matter of taking care of little things and working hard every single day. ... I just looked at myself in the mirror and was like 'Denzel, you really got it.' You just have to apply it every day. Work hard, get extra work in and it's gonna show on the field.
"Take advantage of every single day. Not leaving the field when I can get extra work in. Being the first guy in the building and the last one to leave the field and bring other people with me. Being a leader for BIA, be a leader by my actions."
That first interception also made Burke's teammates want to get a pick in order to follow suit, the type of competition that could reignite Ohio State's dominance in the defensive backfield on their pursuit to gaining back that BIA status it once had.
"It just gives you a little confidence," cornerbacks coach Tim Walton said Wednesday night. "The group feeds off of it. Other guys now have an urgency to get theirs. It makes them feel good, makes them feel like they want to be part of that so they really detail their stuff with trying to go get the ball and being able to make the play. It's a thing that we're really trying to improve on from last season."
Burke is hungry for more, even though teams might shy away from throwing the ball his way given how good of a cornerback he has proven to be throughout much of his time in Columbus.
"(The interception) was good. It was a blessing. Hopefully, they keep throwing my way so I can get more," Burke said.
Ohio State CB Denzel Burke in Week 2:
— PFF College (@PFF_College) September 11, 2023
5 Times Targeted
Zero Yards Allowed
1 INT | 1 PBU
0.0 Passer Rating Allowed pic.twitter.com/H0ObMBe2Ak
It all goes back to the offseason. In April, Burke said he was determined to be a leader in the defensive secondary and an upperclassman that his teammates can lean on and look to while leading by example. Now that he’s the leader in the room, the cornerbacks go as he goes.
"A lot more vocal lately," Burke said then. "I feel like my leadership has grown since my freshman year.
"It's a personal year for me," Burke added. "I want to prove all the doubters wrong. ... We just want to show that BIA (Best in America) is back. And we're not leaving nothing to chance this year."
Following a disappointing end to defensive coordinator Jim Knowles' first season in Columbus last year, one in which the defense collapsed in the final two games of the season, Burke and the rest of the defense are much more prepared and comfortable in year two of Knowles' system.
"I'm a lot more comfortable in the system," Burke said. "I'm comfortable with the play calls and I kind of have an idea of what coach Knowles is gonna call and have an idea of where I need to be at the right time."
With the experience and expectations, Burke knows that the defense must be elite if Ohio State ultimately wants to achieve all of its goals at season's end. While last year's late-season struggles can be partially blamed on inexperience in a new defense, there's no excuse this time around.
"Yes, definitely (there is a different standard compared to last season)," he said. "You want to be top three, be No. 1, honestly. We gotta do the little things right and we gotta just take care of the little details and just do our job as a whole."
So far, Burke has performed up to that standard.
"He's doing well," Walton said of Burke. "He's been consistent. He's been disciplined. Taking it a game at a time, a day at a time. That's our approach to it. We're just trying to stack the days of preparing and getting a little bit better than we were yesterday. He's working at it and he's focused and dialed in trying to be better every day and understanding how teams are going to try and attack us."
While Indiana and Youngstown State's offenses have tried their best to bleed the clock the first two games of the season, Ohio State's defensive backfield has done a superb job when given the opportunity. Through two games, the Buckeyes have allowed just 108.5 passing yards per game, the sixth-best mark in the country. Their 4.63 yards allowed per pass attempt (ninth) and 8.35 yards allowed per completion (10th) are among the best as well. That said, the first two opponents have combined for just 113 offensive plays, the 12th-fewest in the country. More specifically, the Hoosiers and Penguins combined to throw a total of only 46 passes against Ohio State, 26 of which were completed.
The new clock rules – the clock no longer stops on first down besides when there are under two minutes left in either half – have made it so there are fewer plays each game. Burke admitted he has had more energy throughout the game because of it, but said he and the defense must take advantage of every single play even more due to having fewer opportunities.
"I honestly feel a lot more fresh after the game. The games are going a lot quicker, it's kind of crazy honestly," Burke said. "Have to take advantage of every series, every drive and every play. That's the mindset."
Even though Ohio State is 2-0 and has allowed 10 points so for this season, Burke isn’t satisfied with how the Buckeyes have played. He believes the Buckeyes should have shut out Indiana in the season opener. Against Youngstown State, OSU's defense allowed the Penguins to march down the field during an 11-play, 75-yard touchdown drive on YSU's first drive of the game, and Burke was frustrated with that even though the Buckeyes held Youngstown State scoreless the rest of the game.
"It was difficult (giving up the opening-drive touchdown to Youngstown State). We have a standard and we're not trying to give up points. Gotta go back in the film and clean up some (little) things," Burke said. "There was still a lot of ball left. We just have to go out there and do our job ... It was kind of a disappointing win."
Set to go up against a stout Western Kentucky passing attack Saturday afternoon, Ohio State’s defense will face its toughest test of the season to date a week before its primetime matchup at Notre Dame. In 2022, the Hilltoppers averaged 352.1 passing yards per game, the second-most in the country. So far this season, WKU has averaged 327 passing yards per game (12th). Add in the fact that Western Kentucky still has quarterback Austin Reed and wide receiver Malachi Corley – whose 1,293 receiving yards last season were the fourth-most in the country – and the Hilltoppers could give OSU's secondary some competition this weekend.
Burke will be prepared for Western Kentucky's lethal passing attack and will make sure his teammates are, too, which he’s confident they will be since Ohio State's defense prepares against Ohio State’s offense every day in practice.
"Ain't nothing a challenge. We play the best offense in the country every single day," Burke said. "We're just gonna go out there and be ourselves and I can't wait to play them boys."
