Sep 16, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes cornerback Denzel Burke (10) against Western Kentucky Hilltoppers during the third quarter of their game at Ohio Stadium.
Denzel Burke CB Ohio State | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Denzel Burke CB Ohio State
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| ROLE: Outside Man/Press CB | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 03/20/2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.48 seconds (57%*) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 22.5 DOB: 11/10/2002 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| ROLE: Outside Man/Press CB | |
| Last Updated: 03/20/2025 | |
| Draft Year: 2025 | |
| 40 time: 4.48 seconds (57%*) | |
| Age: 22.5 DOB: 11/10/2002 | |
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SHARE THIS PROFILE:
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| Overall Rating: | 83.5 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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82% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 88.6 | |
| Tackling: |
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81% |
| Run Defense: |
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82% |
| Coverage: |
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83% |
| Zone: |
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74% |
| Man/Press: |
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84% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
4th
Overall Rank:
#113
Position rank:
#20
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| College Games: 48 College Snaps: 2477 | ||
ESPN RATING: 81/100
College Combine Results
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247 RATING: 91/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.9 (97%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Riley Moss - Iowa |
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92% |
| Jalyn Armour-Davis - Alabama |
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89% |
| Cam Smith - South Carolina |
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88% |
Drafted: ROUND: 5 - Pick Number: 174 (ARI)
Draft Profile: Bio
A four-year stalwart in Columbus, Burke burst onto the scene in 2021 as the first true freshman to start on defense for the Buckeyes since Andy Katzenmoyer in '96. The Phoenix native's journey from Arizona high school star to Big Ten cornerback showcases his natural athletic gifts, though his path hasn't been without bumps. After earning Freshman All-American honors and accumulating 35 starts over four seasons, Burke leaves Ohio State with 143 tackles, 28 passes defended, and 4 interceptions - including a pick-six against Rutgers in his debut season.Burke's career arc peaked with second-team All-American honors in 2023, where his combination of size and physicality helped him lock down one side of the field for a stout Buckeyes defense. His senior campaign in 2024 marked a concerning regression, with his production dipping to just 2 passes defended despite playing a full season. What began as a potential first-round campaign ended with serious questions about his consistency and ability to match up against elite competition. At 6'1" and 193 pounds, Burke brings prototype NFL corner size to the table.
The former four-star recruit showed his versatility early, playing both ways in high school before focusing on cornerback at Ohio State. Despite a senior year partially derailed by injury, Burke's high school tape showed the kind of explosive athleticism that translated immediately to the college game, where he would go on to start every game he played for the Buckeyes.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Brings the thunder in press coverage with heavy hands and excellent play strength to disrupt timing at the line of scrimmage - plays with the kind of nasty streak you want in your boundary corner
- Fluid backpedal with clean, efficient footwork that allows him to stay in phase - shows natural movement skills rarely found in a corner with his length
- Excels in zone coverage with sharp mental processing and quick reactions to routes developing in his area - particularly strong defending the flat
- Brings cornerback size you can't teach at 6'1" with length to match up against bigger receivers on the boundary - uses his frame effectively to squeeze routes to the sideline
- Shows legitimate dog in run support, attacking downhill with conviction and finishing tackles with proper technique - rare trait for a corner with his coverage ability
- Four years of high-level experience against elite competition in the Big Ten - won't be overwhelmed by the NFL stage after starting 35 games
- Versatile enough to play in multiple schemes with experience in both press-man and zone - gives defensive coordinators flexibility in coverage calls
- Special teams demon waiting to happen with his combination of size, speed and tackling ability - will contribute immediately while developing as a corner
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Man coverage instincts remain a work in progress - can get caught flat-footed against sudden breaks and loses leverage on comeback routes
- Got absolutely dismantled by Oregon's receiving corps in a pivotal Week 7 matchup that exposed significant technical flaws - particularly his tendency to gamble for interceptions rather than playing sound positional defense
- Change of direction ability is slightly limited by tight hips - has to gear down more than you'd like when transitioning from backpedal to drive
- Can get grabby downfield when beaten, leading to penalties - needs to trust his recovery speed rather than panicking when initially beaten
- Ball production doesn't match his coverage skills with only 4 interceptions in 35 starts - needs to turn more deflections into turnovers at the next level
Scouting Report: Summary
Despite a rocky senior season, Burke stands as one of the more intriguing corner prospects in this class. His blend of size, physicality, and proven production against elite competition points to a future NFL starter - one who could make an impact in the right system. The flashes of dominant play, particularly in zone coverage and run support, showcase a corner with legitimate NFL starter traits.The team that drafts Burke will be getting a day-one ready zone corner with the physical tools to develop into an all-around force on the outside. His competitive toughness and exceptional play strength jump off the tape, even during his inconsistent 2024 campaign. While the Oregon game exposed some technical flaws, his body of work at Ohio State suggests those issues are fixable with proper coaching.
The sweet spot for Burke lies in a defense that will maximize his strengths early - deploying him in zone-heavy schemes where his instincts and physicality can shine while his man coverage technique gets refined. His ceiling remains that of a solid NFL starter, though reaching it will require patience and development. Look for him to hear his name called on the second day of the NFL Draft with zone-heavy defenses particularly intrigued by his skill set.
Written By:
K.C. Martinez (Big Ten)
Denzel Burke percentiles vs other Cornerbacks (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate Denzel Burke (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
109.5
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
30.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.