Replacing Denzel Burke: Buckeyes In Market For New Corner

This is the 12th in a series looking at how the Buckeyes will be replacing their departed starters in 2025. Up next is the cornerback spot vacated by senior Denzel Burke.

Denzel Burke was a four-year starter at cornerback for the Buckeyes. He started every game in which he played, and his 51 career starts are the most for a cornerback in school history. As a true freshman in 2021 he was named Third-Team All-Big Ten, followed by Honorable Mention accolades as a sophomore, First-Team All-Big Ten (and Second-Team All-American) as a junior, and then capped by a senior season where he was again named Third-Team All-Big Ten.

As a senior, Burke posted 48 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, and two interceptions. He finished his career with 143 tackles, 9.0 tackles for loss, and four interceptions. He was the first Ohio State defender to start a season opener as a true freshman since linebacker Andy Katzenmoyer in 1996.

The Candidates

The Buckeyes return senior Davison Igbinosun, who will be a three-year starter for Ohio State. Junior Jermaine Mathews, Jr. played the third-most snaps among the true cornerbacks last season and eventually moved into a regular rotation with Burke and Igbinosun.

Sophomore Aaron Scott played in seven games last season. Classmate Bryce West also played in seven games last year but was able to redshirt because three of his games played came during the postseason. Second-year player Calvin Simpson-Hunt transferred out after being passed by both freshmen. Redshirt freshman Miles Lockhart did not see any playing time last season.

Lorenzo Styles, Jr. should also be mentioned here. He is likely going to be competing for the open nickel back spot, but could also end up outside if the situation arises. The Buckeyes also brought in two true freshmen in five-star prospect Devin Sanchez and 6-foot-3 prospect Jordyn Woods. Woods will not enroll until June. Freshman DeShawn Stewart will likely start out at safety but played cornerback at DePaul Catholic in Wayne, New Jersey.

Spring Outlook

Davison Igbinosun should be among the Ohio State veterans who get a little bit of a break during spring ball. If that is the case, there will be more practice snaps available for second-year players Aaron Scott and Bryce West. Miles Lockhart will likely be at nickel, leaving snaps available for true freshman Devin Sanchez.

Scott and West both have high expectations for their second seasons, so it will be interesting to see how they respond to getting the kind of reps they’ve been wanting. All eyes will be on Sanchez, who is arguably the top freshman cornerback in the nation. It is, however, okay to let a freshman play a few games before putting too many expectations on them, no matter how touted they are.

Best Bet

Jermaine Mathews is going to be the starting cornerback opposite Davison Iginbosun this season, so the better question is who replaces Mathews as the third corner — and can that person break into the rotation like Mathews eventually did?

The battle to be the third cornerback will actually be one of the more underrated and compelling competitions to watch in fall camp. Can Devin Sanchez make it interesting while competing with Aaron Scott and Bryce West to be the Buckeyes’ third cornerback? The experience they gained last year will be difficult to top, but Sanchez is not expected to be the typical freshman cornerback.