Denzel Burke announces return to Buckeyes for senior season
COLUMBUS — Another key piece of the Ohio State defense is returning for one more season: Denzel Burke is going to be back with the Buckeyes next fall.
Burke announced his decision to return to Columbus for his senior year on social media Wednesday, a couple of weeks after his junior year ended after the Cotton Bowl loss.
He is the latest Buckeyes star defender to return for another year, joining defensive end Jack Sawyer, safety Lathan Ransom, as well as defensive tackles Tyleik Williams and Ty Hamilton. They’re still waiting on the final decisions from defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau and nickel cornerback Jordan Hancock, but there is reason to be optimistic both of those players could also return.
For Burke, he has clear goals to accomplish next season. He wants to beat Michigan for the first time, win the Big Ten for the first time, win a national title and become a first-round NFL Draft pick.
“I want to be a top-10 pick,” Burke said in the buildup to the Cotton Bowl. “And not only that but to have something to show for it down the road — to be able to show my kids and my family when I was at Ohio State, we won something.
“That’s playing a big factor for me.”
It clearly helped persuade Burke to return to Ohio State to lead the defensive back end next season, even more than he did this year.
And he had the best season of his career in 2023.
“Denzel has really upgraded his game this year,” Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles said during Cotton Bowl week. “I think he’s becoming an elite corner, a guy who can match up against anyone. He is playing more aggressively. He’s playing with a lot of confidence.
“I think he’s made tremendous strides since last season.”
Even with the best year of his career, Burke and the Buckeyes didn’t reach their ultimate goals. They didn’t beat Michigan, win the Big Ten or triumph over the rest of college football with a national title victory.
That is also a big factor for Burke entering another season with the Buckeyes.
Now Denzel Burke will have one more year to do all of those things — and improve yet again to become a first-round NFL Draft selection.
He is returning to Ohio State for his senior season, one that is shaping up to be special for the Buckeyes defense.
