Ohio State junior cornerback Denzel Burke is one of several Buckeyes facing a decision as to either entering the NFL draft or returning to Columbus for an additional season, and as he would tell he, he has yet to make a final call on his future.
“Fifty-fifty right now. But when the time comes in January, I’ll make a decision,” he said on Tuesday. “I don’t want to get any information out there, but a lot of factors are playing into it. It’s probably going to be one of the hardest decisions of my life, and come January I’m going to make that decision.”
Burke is widely projected as a first-round selection should he enter the NFL draft after three standout seasons with the Buckeyes, where he appeared in 34 games with 90 tackles (five for loss) with two interceptions and 27 pass breakups. He has also committed to play in the Cotton Bowl against Missouri, which will give him another chance to impress against a star wideout in Tigers wide receiver Luther Burden III.
But the argument for Burke returning is a simple one. Like many of his teammates in the 2021 recruiting class, he is still seeking a win over Michigan and an appearance in the Big Ten Championship Game, two potential accomplishments that have several draft-eligible Buckeyes considering their futures at Ohio State.
“I’ve gotten a lot of feedback (from the NFL),” Burke said. “A lot of good. But at the same time, it’s just wanting to beat The Team Up North, have a Big Ten championship, compete for (national championship) and eventually win that.”
The deadline for underclassmen to announce their entry to the NFL draft is in mid-January, which leaves plenty of time for Burke and others to make a decision. But much of that may come down to how things go for Burke and Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl, and what his potential league prospects look like coming out of the contest.
“I’m still waiting for after this bowl game, too, just to see where I stand,” he said. “Once everything is said and done then I will know for sure what I’m going to do.”
