When Denzel Burke sat down for his interview session following Wednesday’s practice at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, the Ohio State cornerback initially told reporters that he wasn’t going to talk about the targeting call that got ejected from the Buckeyes’ most recent game against Western Michigan.
When a reporter asked Burke if it was hard not to say what he really wanted to say about the call, however, the always-honest senior opted to throw caution to the wind and say what was on his mind.
“It was a bullcrap call,” Burke said. “I really didn't understand it. And it's kind of been going around the country, really … It's kind of just getting out of hand. And then the fact that you're out the whole game and the player is not even hurt or anything like that, and I was kind of like the last one in. I guess I could see the perspective the refs were looking at. But yeah, it sucks.”
Burke was ejected from Ohio State’s 56-0 win over the Broncos late in the first quarter after officials determined he led with the crown of his helmet as he hit Western Michigan running back Jaden Nixon at the end of the run.
Ohio State CB Denzel Burke is disqualified after he's called for targeting here.
— Andy Backstrom (@andybackstrom) September 8, 2024
Jermaine Mathews Jr. is coming in for Burke. pic.twitter.com/fHE5yiM3Ra
Burke referenced the targeting call against Florida safety Trikweze Bridges in the Gators’ loss to Texas A&M this past weekend, which Bridges was ejected from for hitting a Texas A&M receiver on his butt while he was leaping to make a catch, as another example of what he felt was an incorrect targeting call.
This was called targeting. It's a rule I'll never understand. pic.twitter.com/RTPqi4HncZ
— Chris Hummer (@chris_hummer) September 14, 2024
Whether Burke’s hit actually should have constituted targeting is questionable, as Burke was pushed into Nixon by Western Michigan wide receiver Jordin Parker and Nixon was not in a defenseless position.
THAT IS A HORRIBLE TARGETING CALL ON DENZEL BURKE!
— Chimdi Chekwa (@ChimChek) September 8, 2024
HORRIBLE!!!!
Ryan Day indicated that he disagreed with the call but did not say so directly in the interest of avoiding a fine from the Big Ten.
“There was a couple of different opinions of that after the game. And I guess that's all I can really say,” Day said last week. “That's all I can say. I wish I could say more.”
Asked Wednesday if he had received clarification on the call from the Big Ten, Day said he did not think he was “at liberty to speak about that” but said the Buckeyes will “keep teaching our guys to do things the right way.”
“I can promise you there's nobody on our team that's looking to lead with their head when they tackle,” Day said.
Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles said that’s the best thing the Buckeyes can learn from Burke’s targeting ejection, which was the first of this year for an Ohio State player.
“It's unfortunate. I understand the rules and trying to protect players. Just have to keep your head up,” Knowles said. “It's been something I think since football players put on helmets, the natural tendency to kind of drop your head. I think that (keeping your head up) can eliminate a lot of errors and potential injuries. Just see what you hit and keep your head up.”
Burke said it was disappointing not to be able to play in the final three quarters of the Buckeyes’ shutout victory because he isn’t taking any game for granted this year in his final game as a Buckeye. But he won’t have to serve any suspension this week since the ejection occurred in the first half, and he’s hungry to get back on the field this Saturday when Ohio State hosts Marshall (Noon, FOX).
“Extremely ready to play for this next game, especially Marshall, they throw the ball a lot. So I definitely have some play opportunities to get out there,” Burke said. “I'm excited for them to throw the ball and be able to put myself in a position to make a play, hopefully turn the ball over.”
