It’s another special Tuesday edition of the Monday morning column.
Here’s what I’m thinking about heading into another week at the Scarlet and Gray Report.
We love lists.
Lists are fun.
They remind us to do things, emphasize important ideas and things to remember on a daily basis. But more importantly, especially in this space of college football, it’s at the center of debate, whether it’s the AP Top 25, the College Football Playoff rankings or even the best stadiums in the Big Ten.
Lists can make fans mad, spark debate and encourage camaraderie for a fanbase, crying out accusations in the age-old debates of overrated vs. underrated.
But sometimes lists are wrong. And this is one of those times.
There are not 27 cornerbacks better than Denzel Burke in college football.
There are not five cornerbacks in the Big Ten better than Burke either.
He was so good last season that opposing quarterbacks stopped throwing his way. After getting 22 targets in the first three games he played against Minnesota, Oregon and Tulsa — allowing 10 catches for 104 yards and -1 yards after catch with no catch longer than 13 yards — he had only one game in which he allowed more than five targets in the final 10 games: 14 against Purdue.
Overall, opposing quarterbacks had a 48.4% success rate against Burke in coverage, allowing 11.1 yards per reception with a yards-after-catch average of 1.9.
Oh, and he did not allow a single touchdown, adding 12 pass breakups and an interception.
There are good cornerbacks on this list. But Burke should be near the top of that list.
And here’s why:
I’m going to use Pro Football Focus to do some continued digging. I’ll take each of the top five cornerbacks on this list and each of the Big Ten cornerbacks on this list and compare some stats — tackles, pass breakups and interceptions along with quarterback completion rate, average targets per game, average yards per reception, average yards after catch, and touchdowns allowed — to see where Burke stacks up.
Let’s start with the Ohio State sophomore:
Burke (No. 28): 36 tackles, 12 pass breakups, 1 INT, 48.4% completion rate, 4.9 targets per game, 11.1 yards per reception, 1.9 yards after catch per reception, 0 TDs allowed
Now, let’s look at a few corners listed higher than Burke.
Utah redshirt sophomore Clark Phillips III (No. 1): 61 tackles, 13 pass breakups, 2 INT, 55% completion rare, 6.2 targets per game, 11.1 yards per reception, 2.1 yards after catch per reception, 2 TDs allowed
South Carolina redshirt junior Cam Smith (No. 2): 41 tackles, 11 pass breakups, 3 INT, 46.9% completion rate, 2.9 targets per game, 12.3 yards per reception, 2.8 yards after catch per reception 1 TD allowed
Iowa redshirt senior Riley Moss (No. 3): 39 tackles, 5 pass breakups, 4 INT, 53.5% completion rate, 3.9 targets per game, 17.7 yards per reception, 6.0 yards after catch per reception, 1 TD allowed
Alabama junior Eli Ricks (No. 4): 11 tackles, 1 pass breakup, 1 INT, 64.7% completion rate, 2.8 targets per game, 12.4 yards per reception, 5.6 yards after catch per reception, 1 TD allowed
LSU redshirt senior Jarrick Bernard-Converse (No. 5): 51 tackles, 11 pass breakups, 0 INT, 50% completion rate, 5.1 targets per game, 11.7 yards per reception, 2.9 yards after catch per reception, 3 TDs allowed
Indiana senior Tiawan Mullen (No. 7): 19 tackles, 3 pass breakups, 0 INT, 62.5% completion rate, 4.6 targets per game, 12.3 yards per reception, 2.6 yards after catch per reception, 2 TDs allowed
Iowa redshirt junior Jermari Harris (No. 13): 34 tackles, 4 pass breakups, 4 INT, 51.2% completion rate, 3.4 targets per game, 16.9 yards per reception, 5.1 yards after catch per completion, 1 TD allowed
Penn State redshirt junior Joey Porter Jr. (No. 22): 50 tackles, 4 pass breakups, 1 INT, 60% completion rate, 4.2 targets per game, 11.2 yards per reception, 2.4 yards after catch per reception, 2 TDs allowed
Michigan senior DJ Turner (No. 24): 33 tackles, 7 pass deflections, 2 INT, 44.1 % completion rare, 4.2 targets per game, 10.3 yards per reception, 3.5 yards after catch per reception, 2 TDs allowed
The stats are clear that Burke hangs with anyone in the country, but this ranking seems to be more about age than anything.
We’ll see where he compares to these nine cornerbacks by the time the 2022 season is complete.
OK, but what about Cameron Brown?
Yes, they are comparable. Here’s the redshirt senior’s numbers:
Brown: 25 tackles, 7 pass deflections, 1 INT, 38.2% completion rate, 3.1 targets per game, 14.5 yards per reception, 3.5 yards after catch per completion, 0 TD allowed
There’s that big indicator again: zero touchdowns allowed in 456 snaps.
Personally, I think Brown could have the highest ceiling of any defensive player on Ohio State’s roster next season. Every offense will be trying to take away the deep passing game knowing that Burke will take on the No. 1 receiver on the outside. With Brown taking the No. 2, showing spurts of dominance at points last season shutting down the outside, he could take a major step forward in the eyes of the Big Ten and in the eyes of NFL scouts for the 2023 Draft.
There may not be a player in the country that made a better decision to come back than Brown. Not only will it be huge for Ohio State, but if it goes how Brown thinks it will go, the Buckeyes could have one of if not the best cornerback duo in the country.
On to June…
The evaluation period on the recruiting calendar ends today and turns into a quiet period for the Ohio State coaching staff once the clock strikes midnight.
But the month of June is going to be nothing but quiet for the Buckeyes on the recruiting front, with potential players rotating in and out of the Woody Hayes Athletic Center through the program’s seven recruiting camps and seven-on-seven tournament and crowds of official visitors.
This will be the month that Ohio State’s 2023 recruiting class will be defined and future classes will begin to be formed.
So what are the bullet-point storylines for this busy month?
Let’s start with the offense.
2023 Offensive tackle: Olaus Alinen is the center of attention June 24-26 and is the reason why each of the Buckeyes’ three current offensive line commits — Luke Montgomery, Austin Siereveld and Josh Padilla — are visiting that weekend. Securing Alinen, who we have a FutureCast out for, would change the trajectory for what the Buckeyes do at tackle in 2023, which may be the most important position of any in the entire class to hit on.
The plan for tight end: Ohio State has one tight end in the 2023 class in Ty Lockwood, who’s coming June 24-26. There was a point in time where the Buckeyes wanted two tight ends in 2023, and they currently have an official visit for one June 10-12 in four-star Riley Williams. With WIlliams coming to town along with 2024 four-star Tayvion Galloway, who’s camping June 1, the Buckeyes could have a clearer picture of what this position looks like when the end of the quiet period arrives.
The plan for running back: Again, Ohio State already has one secured in Mark Fletcher, but the plan always was to get two in the 2023 class. And with Richard Young backing out on Ohio State for an official visit while still calling the Buckeyes a top school, Justice Haynes seems to be the main target, coming June 24-26, even though he seems to be getting pressed hard by Georgia.
What will come out of the June 17-19 weekend?: For the offense, this is the big one. With 2024 quarterback commit Dylan Raiola at the helm, wide receivers Bryson Rodgers (unofficial), Noah Rodgers and Brandon Inniss are all scheduled to be in attendance at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. In terms of the future stars of this offense, June 17-19 could be looked at as a key moment in terms of where thus unit is heading.
Now, let’s look at the defense.
Who will emerge at linebacker for 2023?: All three of Ohio State’s main targets in 2023 — Raul Aguirre, Troy Bowles and Tackett Curtis, who we have a FutureCast for — are holding their official visits June 24-26. We already know how much Ohio State loves Curtis, with Knowles traveling to Louisiana seemingly every weekend. But who could he be paired with in the class?
What’s the plan for safety in 2023?: This position comes down to three names: Jayden Bonsu, who we have a FutureCast for, Joenel Aguero and Caleb Downs: the No. 1 safety in the class. Which one will have the upper edge to pair with Malik Hartford for Perry Eliano’s room? The Buckeyes could have a clearer picture on who their focus is on at the end of the quiet period.
Which defensive end will emerge June 24-26?: Look at this list of names: Jason Moore, John Walker, Desmond Umeozulu and Vic Burley. Each is taking their visits June 24-26. While Larry Johnson likes to specialize in that unheralded diamond in the rough in terms of a defensive lineman, it seems likely that one or multiple of those linemen could emerge to the top of the pile after their official visits, even with AJ Hoffler, Tomarrion Parker and A’Mauri Washington still looking for dates to take official visits either in the summer or the fall.
What’s on the line for this month?
Momentum.
Ohio State currently has the No. 4 recruiting class in the country in 2023 with its eyes still set on some of the highest-rated prospects in the class like Inniss, Haynes and Downs. The eyes have already been cast on 2024 with the splash of Raiola setting the course for the Buckeyes offense for the future.
The fact remains the same: while the Buckeyes currently sit behind Notre Dame, Penn State and Texas Tech — which has 20 commits in the class with an average star rating of 3.3 — they will likely be in the hunt for one of those top three spots in the 2023 class, which would lead to momentum in 2024, 2025 and beyond.
That’s all Ohio State needs it to be: momentum, especially with a brand new coaching staff that are first-time recruiters for the Buckeyes.
And it seems like after June, we’ll have a good look at where the Buckeyes stand.
I got two highlights for you.
Here’s one for the present that should get you excited:
Reaction: The burst off the line of scrimmage from this throwing machine is exquisite, being forced to slow down to not outrun the pass coming toward him.
From everything I’ve heard, this seems to be the receiver Ohio State expects Marvin Harrison Jr. to be in 2022. And if so, any of those nine cornerbacks we talked about earlier — especially the five in the Big Ten — would be in trouble.
Here’s one for the future that should get you excited:
Reaction: I have no idea what the hell Rivals is waiting for. He’s a five-star quarterback and he will be competing for that No. 1 spot in the 2024 class when all is said and done.
Also, for what it’s worth
Now, here’s the song of the week.
I get to see Phish this week. And I am excited.
Here’s what they can do.
See you on the board.
Here’s what I’m thinking about heading into another week at the Scarlet and Gray Report.
We love lists.
Lists are fun.
They remind us to do things, emphasize important ideas and things to remember on a daily basis. But more importantly, especially in this space of college football, it’s at the center of debate, whether it’s the AP Top 25, the College Football Playoff rankings or even the best stadiums in the Big Ten.
Lists can make fans mad, spark debate and encourage camaraderie for a fanbase, crying out accusations in the age-old debates of overrated vs. underrated.
But sometimes lists are wrong. And this is one of those times.
There are not 27 cornerbacks better than Denzel Burke in college football.
There are not five cornerbacks in the Big Ten better than Burke either.
He was so good last season that opposing quarterbacks stopped throwing his way. After getting 22 targets in the first three games he played against Minnesota, Oregon and Tulsa — allowing 10 catches for 104 yards and -1 yards after catch with no catch longer than 13 yards — he had only one game in which he allowed more than five targets in the final 10 games: 14 against Purdue.
Overall, opposing quarterbacks had a 48.4% success rate against Burke in coverage, allowing 11.1 yards per reception with a yards-after-catch average of 1.9.
Oh, and he did not allow a single touchdown, adding 12 pass breakups and an interception.
There are good cornerbacks on this list. But Burke should be near the top of that list.
And here’s why:
I’m going to use Pro Football Focus to do some continued digging. I’ll take each of the top five cornerbacks on this list and each of the Big Ten cornerbacks on this list and compare some stats — tackles, pass breakups and interceptions along with quarterback completion rate, average targets per game, average yards per reception, average yards after catch, and touchdowns allowed — to see where Burke stacks up.
Let’s start with the Ohio State sophomore:
Burke (No. 28): 36 tackles, 12 pass breakups, 1 INT, 48.4% completion rate, 4.9 targets per game, 11.1 yards per reception, 1.9 yards after catch per reception, 0 TDs allowed
Now, let’s look at a few corners listed higher than Burke.
Utah redshirt sophomore Clark Phillips III (No. 1): 61 tackles, 13 pass breakups, 2 INT, 55% completion rare, 6.2 targets per game, 11.1 yards per reception, 2.1 yards after catch per reception, 2 TDs allowed
South Carolina redshirt junior Cam Smith (No. 2): 41 tackles, 11 pass breakups, 3 INT, 46.9% completion rate, 2.9 targets per game, 12.3 yards per reception, 2.8 yards after catch per reception 1 TD allowed
Iowa redshirt senior Riley Moss (No. 3): 39 tackles, 5 pass breakups, 4 INT, 53.5% completion rate, 3.9 targets per game, 17.7 yards per reception, 6.0 yards after catch per reception, 1 TD allowed
Alabama junior Eli Ricks (No. 4): 11 tackles, 1 pass breakup, 1 INT, 64.7% completion rate, 2.8 targets per game, 12.4 yards per reception, 5.6 yards after catch per reception, 1 TD allowed
LSU redshirt senior Jarrick Bernard-Converse (No. 5): 51 tackles, 11 pass breakups, 0 INT, 50% completion rate, 5.1 targets per game, 11.7 yards per reception, 2.9 yards after catch per reception, 3 TDs allowed
Indiana senior Tiawan Mullen (No. 7): 19 tackles, 3 pass breakups, 0 INT, 62.5% completion rate, 4.6 targets per game, 12.3 yards per reception, 2.6 yards after catch per reception, 2 TDs allowed
Iowa redshirt junior Jermari Harris (No. 13): 34 tackles, 4 pass breakups, 4 INT, 51.2% completion rate, 3.4 targets per game, 16.9 yards per reception, 5.1 yards after catch per completion, 1 TD allowed
Penn State redshirt junior Joey Porter Jr. (No. 22): 50 tackles, 4 pass breakups, 1 INT, 60% completion rate, 4.2 targets per game, 11.2 yards per reception, 2.4 yards after catch per reception, 2 TDs allowed
Michigan senior DJ Turner (No. 24): 33 tackles, 7 pass deflections, 2 INT, 44.1 % completion rare, 4.2 targets per game, 10.3 yards per reception, 3.5 yards after catch per reception, 2 TDs allowed
The stats are clear that Burke hangs with anyone in the country, but this ranking seems to be more about age than anything.
We’ll see where he compares to these nine cornerbacks by the time the 2022 season is complete.
OK, but what about Cameron Brown?
Yes, they are comparable. Here’s the redshirt senior’s numbers:
Brown: 25 tackles, 7 pass deflections, 1 INT, 38.2% completion rate, 3.1 targets per game, 14.5 yards per reception, 3.5 yards after catch per completion, 0 TD allowed
There’s that big indicator again: zero touchdowns allowed in 456 snaps.
Personally, I think Brown could have the highest ceiling of any defensive player on Ohio State’s roster next season. Every offense will be trying to take away the deep passing game knowing that Burke will take on the No. 1 receiver on the outside. With Brown taking the No. 2, showing spurts of dominance at points last season shutting down the outside, he could take a major step forward in the eyes of the Big Ten and in the eyes of NFL scouts for the 2023 Draft.
There may not be a player in the country that made a better decision to come back than Brown. Not only will it be huge for Ohio State, but if it goes how Brown thinks it will go, the Buckeyes could have one of if not the best cornerback duo in the country.
On to June…
The evaluation period on the recruiting calendar ends today and turns into a quiet period for the Ohio State coaching staff once the clock strikes midnight.
But the month of June is going to be nothing but quiet for the Buckeyes on the recruiting front, with potential players rotating in and out of the Woody Hayes Athletic Center through the program’s seven recruiting camps and seven-on-seven tournament and crowds of official visitors.
This will be the month that Ohio State’s 2023 recruiting class will be defined and future classes will begin to be formed.
So what are the bullet-point storylines for this busy month?
Let’s start with the offense.
2023 Offensive tackle: Olaus Alinen is the center of attention June 24-26 and is the reason why each of the Buckeyes’ three current offensive line commits — Luke Montgomery, Austin Siereveld and Josh Padilla — are visiting that weekend. Securing Alinen, who we have a FutureCast out for, would change the trajectory for what the Buckeyes do at tackle in 2023, which may be the most important position of any in the entire class to hit on.
The plan for tight end: Ohio State has one tight end in the 2023 class in Ty Lockwood, who’s coming June 24-26. There was a point in time where the Buckeyes wanted two tight ends in 2023, and they currently have an official visit for one June 10-12 in four-star Riley Williams. With WIlliams coming to town along with 2024 four-star Tayvion Galloway, who’s camping June 1, the Buckeyes could have a clearer picture of what this position looks like when the end of the quiet period arrives.
The plan for running back: Again, Ohio State already has one secured in Mark Fletcher, but the plan always was to get two in the 2023 class. And with Richard Young backing out on Ohio State for an official visit while still calling the Buckeyes a top school, Justice Haynes seems to be the main target, coming June 24-26, even though he seems to be getting pressed hard by Georgia.
What will come out of the June 17-19 weekend?: For the offense, this is the big one. With 2024 quarterback commit Dylan Raiola at the helm, wide receivers Bryson Rodgers (unofficial), Noah Rodgers and Brandon Inniss are all scheduled to be in attendance at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. In terms of the future stars of this offense, June 17-19 could be looked at as a key moment in terms of where thus unit is heading.
Now, let’s look at the defense.
Who will emerge at linebacker for 2023?: All three of Ohio State’s main targets in 2023 — Raul Aguirre, Troy Bowles and Tackett Curtis, who we have a FutureCast for — are holding their official visits June 24-26. We already know how much Ohio State loves Curtis, with Knowles traveling to Louisiana seemingly every weekend. But who could he be paired with in the class?
What’s the plan for safety in 2023?: This position comes down to three names: Jayden Bonsu, who we have a FutureCast for, Joenel Aguero and Caleb Downs: the No. 1 safety in the class. Which one will have the upper edge to pair with Malik Hartford for Perry Eliano’s room? The Buckeyes could have a clearer picture on who their focus is on at the end of the quiet period.
Which defensive end will emerge June 24-26?: Look at this list of names: Jason Moore, John Walker, Desmond Umeozulu and Vic Burley. Each is taking their visits June 24-26. While Larry Johnson likes to specialize in that unheralded diamond in the rough in terms of a defensive lineman, it seems likely that one or multiple of those linemen could emerge to the top of the pile after their official visits, even with AJ Hoffler, Tomarrion Parker and A’Mauri Washington still looking for dates to take official visits either in the summer or the fall.
What’s on the line for this month?
Momentum.
Ohio State currently has the No. 4 recruiting class in the country in 2023 with its eyes still set on some of the highest-rated prospects in the class like Inniss, Haynes and Downs. The eyes have already been cast on 2024 with the splash of Raiola setting the course for the Buckeyes offense for the future.
The fact remains the same: while the Buckeyes currently sit behind Notre Dame, Penn State and Texas Tech — which has 20 commits in the class with an average star rating of 3.3 — they will likely be in the hunt for one of those top three spots in the 2023 class, which would lead to momentum in 2024, 2025 and beyond.
That’s all Ohio State needs it to be: momentum, especially with a brand new coaching staff that are first-time recruiters for the Buckeyes.
And it seems like after June, we’ll have a good look at where the Buckeyes stand.
I got two highlights for you.
Here’s one for the present that should get you excited:
Reaction: The burst off the line of scrimmage from this throwing machine is exquisite, being forced to slow down to not outrun the pass coming toward him.
From everything I’ve heard, this seems to be the receiver Ohio State expects Marvin Harrison Jr. to be in 2022. And if so, any of those nine cornerbacks we talked about earlier — especially the five in the Big Ten — would be in trouble.
Here’s one for the future that should get you excited:
Reaction: I have no idea what the hell Rivals is waiting for. He’s a five-star quarterback and he will be competing for that No. 1 spot in the 2024 class when all is said and done.
Also, for what it’s worth
Now, here’s the song of the week.
I get to see Phish this week. And I am excited.
Here’s what they can do.
See you on the board.
Last edited:
