CB Rankings: Denzel Burke

With the season underway players have had the opportunity to raise their stock and move up the rankings. Before we jump into Denzel Burke, here’s a few reminders about the rankings themselves:

• The rankings will be updated throughout the season.
• Players who have not played college football are not eligible for the rankings.
• Players are graded on their college ability, not their pro potential.
• We are judging players on their film, production and physical tools.

You can view the College Football CB rankings here.

Ohio State cornerback, Denzel Burke was pressed into duty earlier than some may have expected for the Buckeyes defense. With injuries and early season defensive struggles, Burke stepped into a starting role right away for the Ohio State and proved to be a bright spot for the defense. He has not relinquished his starting spot and continues to get better with experience. Through six games, Burke has made 16 tackles, 1 interception, 6 pass breakups and scored a touchdown. Burke has been the Buckeyes best cornerback and is developing into another star at the position for Ohio State.

Burke has lightning quick feet in coverage. He mirrors receivers well, changing directions efficiently to limit separation the receiver is able to create. Burke is fast and agile, with plenty of athleticism to stick to receivers downfield. He back pedals well and has the explosiveness out of his backpedal to break on plays in front of him. Receivers have a hard time shaking Burke, he rarely is beat for big plays downfield and is regularly in position to make the tackle when he does give up a catch.

Burke is great in coverage and also shows the instincts to find the ball and make a play on it. He has a good feel for when the ball is in the air and finds it quickly. Burke then has the body control to adjust to the ball and make the play to keep the receiver from making the catch. His quickness and ability to react to the ball make him a dangerous player for offenses to test in the passing game. Burke keeps gaining confidence every week and should be able to turn more of those pass breakups into interceptions moving forward.

Denzel Burke is still a true freshman, but with his skills and a 6’1″ 192 lb frame, he is a high ceiling player that is already making an impact. Burke is still adjusting to the physicality of the college game, but shows progress every week. His consistent play has been one of the key factors in Ohio State’s defensive turnaround this season and he will continue to be a leader for the unit moving forward. Burke has made his mark sooner than expected and has earned a spot among the top cornerbacks in the country.

For more Ohio State content visit our team page here.

Ohio State Buckeyes Gear

For more content like this don’t forget to subscribe to our website for free.

For the latest content follow us on twitter @saturdayscfb & @cfbsaturdaysC or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CFBSaturdays.