Denzel Burke earns nod as semifinalist for Thorpe Award
COLUMBUS — It didn’t take long for Ohio State cornerback Denzel Burke to declare himself ‘back’ as a lockdown defensive back.
In fact, just two weeks into the season, Burke made the claim after picking off a pass in the win over Youngstown State.
“I’ve been back, honestly,” he said.
If there were any remaining questions about Burke’s ability to shut down an entire side of the field since then, he has answered them in resounding fashion.
Two weeks after showing up on midseason All-America teams, Denzel Burke was honored as a semifinalist for the Thorpe Award, given annually to the best defensive back in college football. The semifinalist honors were released Tuesday afternoon. Burke was included.
Burke leads the Big Ten in pass breakups this season and has an interception. He is rarely challenged by opposing offenses because of how good he is for the Buckeyes.
And he didn’t even need to play in any games to know his confidence would be high going into this season, following an injury-filled sophomore campaign last year.
“My confidence is probably at an all-time high,” Burke said in August. “You gain your confidence by going out here and guarding Marvin Harrison [Jr.] and Emeka Egbuka every day. They gonna get you better, and I’m gonna make them better, too.”
They certainly did make Burke better. He is now so much better that he is a semifinalist for the Thorpe Award. Don’t be surprised if he ends up winning it, either.
Denzel Burke already earning All-American buzz
The Athletic released its first- and second-team All-America list two weeks ago, and junior defensive back Denzel Burke is a first-teamer halfway through the season. The Athletic cited his Big Ten-lead in pass breakups and interception, as well as the Buckeyes defensive passing efficiency as a big reason why.
Are you subscribed yet?
Are you ready to get all your latest Ohio State news in one place? Become a member of Lettermen Row today. With your Lettermen Row/On3+ membership, you’ll not only have access to everything that’s happening with the Buckeyes, but you’ll also be able to peruse other fan sites within the network to hear just how rivals are feeling about Ohio State, as well. Make sure to follow along on X, Instagram and on Youtube for all the latest Buckeyes news you need to know.
