Trio of Buckeyes named to midseason All-America team by The Athletic
COLUMBUS — Another day, another midseason All-American team honor for an Ohio State defender.
On Tuesday, it was Buckeyes defensive tackle Tyleik Williams who earned a first-team nod from ESPN. Wednesday, however, The Athletic released its All-America team at the midway point of the college football season. And that publication chose a different star.
The Athletic released its first- and second-team All-America list Wednesday, and junior defensive back Denzel Burke is a first-teamer halfway through the season. The Athletic cited his Big Ten-leading eight pass breakups and interception, as well as the Buckeyes defensive passing efficiency as a big reason why.
The Athletic also named its second-team All-America list midway through the season, and wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. made that list. So did junior defensive tackle Tyleik Williams. Both players continue to garner midseason attention for their play so far this season.
First-teamer Burke has been one of the leaders of the Ohio State defense in his third season as a starter on the outside.
He credits a second year in the Jim Knowles defense as a big reason why.
“A lot more comfortable in the system, a lot more comfortable with play calls,” Burke said, when asked about being in coordinator Jim Knowles’ defense for a second year, last month. “I kind of have an idea what Coach Knowles is going to call. And I have an idea of where I need to be at the right time.”
Where he needs to be is leading him to where he wants to be: a first-team All-American halfway through the season.
ESPN also names midseason All-American team
The Athletic is the second publication to have a single Buckeyes player make the first-team list, joining ESPN. But it was a different Ohio State defender.
Buckeyes star defensive tackle Tyleik Williams was selected as a midseason All-American by ESPN through his incredible first six games.
Ohio State superstar wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. was a preseason All-American after being a unanimous selection a year ago. The junior wide out and projected top-five NFL Draft pick is averaging more than 100 receiving yards per game and has paced the Buckeyes offense.
That must not be enough for ESPN to give him the nod as a midseason All-American. He was left off the midseason All-American team by the ‘Worldwide Leader in Sports’ on Tuesday. The network instead selected LSU receiver Malik Nabers and Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden as its All-American selections.
