The Best in America moniker Ohio State’s cornerback room tends to tote hasn’t been in full effect this season.
That’s not to say the corners have been all bad. In fact, they've mostly been good. Only five teams in the nation allow fewer passing yards per game than the Buckeyes, and their 6.1 yards allowed per pass attempt is good for 19th-best across the FBS.
But there’s a damned spot (for those who have read Shakespeare) upon the résumé of Ohio State’s pass defense, and especially its cornerbacks. The Buckeyes allowed Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel to throw for 341 yards and two touchdowns in Autzen Stadium in a 32-31 loss, the first top-five game OSU played this year.
Now Ohio State enters its third top-five contest of its 2024 campaign and will face the best passing attack it’s seen since the Ducks when No. 5 Indiana comes to the Shoe this Saturday. The Buckeyes need BIA to bring their A-game.
“We know we're going to get challenged out there, and that's just the way it is,” Day said. “Especially now and in this game, they're going to challenge us on the perimeter. That's just the way it works. So our guys got to learn from things that have gone on in the past and make those adjustments. ... The bottom line is, this coaching staff and all of us believe in those guys. We love their competitiveness. We love who they are. They're team players, and I’m excited to see their week of work and excited to see them play on Saturday.”
Indiana’s aerial assault packs more firepower than a B-52 Stratofortress.
Sixth-year senior quarterback Kurtis Rourke is having a career year for the Hoosiers after transferring in from Ohio, ranked second nationally in passing yards per attempt at 10.1. He’s completed 71.8% of his throws for 2,410 yards and 21 touchdowns with just four interceptions.
“I think he's played good football this year,” Day said of Rourke. “The numbers speak for themselves, and he's very accurate in what he does, and he knows what he's doing. He's played a lot of football, so he's an experienced guy. So, again, great challenge for our team.”
Flanking Rourke is a loaded arsenal at wide receiver. Elijah Sarratt, who was one of 13 transfers to follow new Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti from James Madison to Indiana, leads the charge with 38 receptions for 685 yards and six touchdowns. Omar Cooper Jr. has been a big play magnet, averaging 22 yards per reception and totaling 24 catches for 527 yards and five scores in 2024. Myles Price and Ke’Shawn Williams make it four Hoosier wideouts with at least 340 yards this year.
All told, Indiana is No. 3 in the nation for passing yards per attempt (9.9), No. 23 in passing yards per game (276.5) and No. 3 in passer rating (179.77). It’s true that the Hoosiers have yet to play a ranked opponent, but production is production.
“They're a real veteran group of receivers, so there's some dudes that do the little things right, maybe things that you wouldn't notice just from watching a game,” Ohio State safety Lathan Ransom said. “But they do a great job, you know, body control, top of the route. And yeah, we're excited for the challenge, man, because they're a good group of dudes.”
Denzel Burke had a career-bad performance at Oregon. It’s a dead horse that’s been beaten repeatedly in the five weeks since. He gave up eight receptions for 179 yards and two touchdowns that night, per Pro Football Focus. That’s nearly half of the 364 yards he’s allowed this season and the only two scores he’s surrendered.
Burke’s been decent since that night, but his numbers still fall well short of fellow outside cornerback Davison Igbinosun, who’s allowed 19 receptions for 229 yards and one touchdown. And there hasn’t been a game where it felt like Burke dominated a side of the field in pass coverage like he did at times in 2023.
Still, Ohio State’s coaching staff has expressed nothing but confidence in the Buckeyes’ No. 1 corner.
“I think he's going to have a great game this weekend. I think he's going to have a great week of preparation,” Day said of Burke. “I had a great conversation with him the other day, and he's excited about playing in this game. They completed that one on him the other day, but he knows he's got to play his best in big games. And I think he's going to have a great week of practice, and I'm looking forward to seeing him play on Saturday.”
Burke wasn’t bad against Northwestern, under further review, allowing four receptions for 36 yards with only three receptions for 15 yards coming in the final three quarters. He made five tackles and broke up a pass. But the 21-yard catch wide receiver Bryce Kirtz made against him gives some pause.
Much of Indiana’s passing attack is centered around back-shoulder throws from Rourke to his receivers, and the above is a back-shoulder ball. This is a play where it felt like Burke was in position, but just couldn’t finish to break up the pass. He must be better against this type of throw on Saturday.
“You have to be physical and violent with your hands through the route,” Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles said. “They’re very good at (back-shoulder throws). It's tough to defend because of all the pushing and shoving that occurs and whether you're going to get a PI, but you really got to be physical back through the receiver and then violent at the catch point.”
Another thing that back-shoulder throws are good for is drawing pass interference calls, and Igbinosun’s had some issues drawing flags this year. While Knowles says you “don’t ever accept” penalties as a coach, he also thinks Igbinosun’s physicality and aggression are part of his strengths as a football player.
“He’s different. And to me it’s fun to coach because he has that aggressiveness,” Knowles said. “He’s gonna throw punches, what I call (punches). It’s a good thing and you just have to keep working on his technique.”
While Burke and Igbinosun have had their issues, nickel Jordan Hancock is having a fantastic year in the secondary. Targeted 29 times in coverage, he’s allowed just 17 receptions for 121 yards and no touchdowns. That’s 4.2 yards allowed per target, better than the 4.8 yards allowed per pass attempt of the nation’s No. 1 pass defense, Texas.
Hancock’s flexed more versatility than a Flex Seal commercial, playing 60 snaps in the box and 68 snaps at deep safety in addition to 264 snaps in his usual slot corner role this year, per Pro Football Focus. He’s collected 29 tackles with 1.5 tackles for loss, a team-high six pass breakups and an interception in 2024.
“He's played great,” Ransom said. “He's going in there, playing different positions, making a play when he's in there. And yeah, I think it says a lot about him to be able to play different positions and make plays when his number is called. So it's exciting to see.”
Burke, Igbinosun and Hancock, BIA and the entire secondary need to be at their best against Indiana.
“We're excited for the challenge,” Ransom said. “I think their quarterback has done a great job all season. A lot of veteran receivers that have made a lot of plays. So we're going to do our best to execute Coach Knowles’ plan at a high level, communicate, and then play fast and play physical.”
