Denzel Burke is notoriously both confident and honest.
So it’s no surprise the former Ohio State cornerback was one of the first Buckeye players to declare the 2024 season as “natty or bust.” Burke didn’t shy away from the mammoth expectations that followed the Buckeyes following an exciting offseason, and almost a year later, he stood a podium in Indianapolis at the NFL Scouting Combine proudly delivering a simple message: Mission accomplished.
“It means everything to me,” Burke said Thursday of living up to his promise. “We just stood on everything we talked about. We went through the fire, came out of it and we went on one hell of a run.”
Like many other Ohio State upperclassmen, Burke weighed his options between returning to Ohio State for his senior season or going pro. Ultimately, he decided to come back for a final run at a championship. The four-year OSU starter said the decision worked out for him in the end as he recorded 48 tackles, two interceptions and two pass deflections in his final year as a Buckeye.
“I just matured a lot, continued to develop my game and I feel like I evolved at another level,” Burke said of what he learned in his final year. “I've just got a lot more to improve, a lot more to keep working on.”
With his time at Ohio State over, Burke has his eye set on impressing 32 NFL franchises this week at the NFL Scouting Combine. He’s met with various teams over the past couple of days, including formally with the Buffalo Bills. Burke has advocated to teams he’s most confident in his press-man coverage, and some franchises have had discussions with him about potentially playing nickel, something he’d be open to.
“I feel like I can play all areas of the game,” Burke said. “I can play inside. I can play outside. I can play off. I can fit in any type of scheme. I'm physical, provide great run support, and I watch a lot of film.”
Burke felt like the national championship game, this past season’s Michigan and Nebraska games along with the Maryland contest in 2023 were the contests he looked the best on tape. It’s no secret which outing was his worst, though.
After Ohio State’s one-point defeat against Oregon in mid-October, Burke had to face all kinds of scrutiny following a career-worst performance where he allowed more than 150 yards and seven catches, the only game in his college career that he allowed more than 100 yards to a wideout. Burke doesn’t think he should be defined by that game, though.
“That game was an anomaly,” Burke said. “It just wasn't my day. That wasn't who I am, and I just had to keep pushing.”
Burke redeemed himself in the 10 games following the loss to the Ducks, helping lead the Buckeyes’ No. 1-ranked defense on a championship run.
Though he blocked out the rough game, he’ll no doubt be asked about it by prospective NFL employers. Burke is confident he can answer those questions correctly, attributing his mindset to having a short memory.
“It's part of the game, especially me playing corner,” Burke said. “Not everything is going to be perfect, but even though you're trying to make everything perfect, just continue to have the next play mentality and continue to keep pushing forward.”
In the Rose Bowl quarterfinal rematch against Oregon, Burke did a complete 180 against the Ducks, allowing zero catches in the blowout win. Despite the massive ramifications that game could have for him personally, Burke said he was more focused on helping his team win than having a dominant performance.
“It really wasn't about revenge for me,” Burke said of the rematch. “It was really just about the team aspect, and understanding that we've got the national championship right in front of us. So it's just a matter of just continuing to keep playing, and just be yourself. That's what it was.”
Burke is widely projected to be either a second- or third-round draft pick and the Arizona native has no preference on what team selects him. Regardless of where or when he hears his name called in April, he’s determined to play in the pros for at least a decade.
“Draft stock is not really a big thing to me,” Burke said. “I love the game so much, man. I just want to continue to keep playing the ball, playing football at a very high level, and have a 10-, 12-year football career.”
