Former Ohio State football CB Denzel Burke discusses 'friction' among Buckeyes

Former Ohio State football CB Denzel Burke discusses ‘friction’ among Buckeyes

Posted by author February 17, 2025 Football

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On a recent podcast, former Ohio State cornerback Denzel Burke detailed some of the highs and lows of the Buckeyes’ season that ended in a national championship.

Burke spoke with former Ohio State players Bryant Browning and Chimdi Chekwa on their “Bleav in Buckeye Football” podcast and said the players’ meeting with coach Ryan Day after the stunning loss to Michigan was unusually blunt.

“Everyone started lashing out, opinions left and right,” Burke said. “Dudes calling out coach Day, like some stuff I ain’t never seen before.”

But he said the meeting was important because it resulted in needed changes, including prioritizing getting the ball to OSU’s playmakers on offense.

“I thought that was the best thing that happened to us,” Burke said.

Burke, a four-year starter, struggled in the loss at Oregon in October. He said the game plan was partly responsible because it was overly complicated, especially against the Ducks’ fast-tempo offense.

“We were running plays we’re not really efficient in,” he said. “It was bad, man, both on the field and coaching.”

In meetings between players and coaches afterward, Burke said there “was obviously a lot of friction in the whole room. There’s a lot of pride involved.”

He said the success in the Rose Bowl rematch in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals stemmed from OSU simplifying the game plan.

“We’re always going to have better guys (than the opponent),” Burke said. “But our main thing was just to run plays that we’re efficient at.”

Ohio State routed Oregon 41-21. Burke said the semifinal against Texas was the toughest of the Buckeyes’ four playoff games.

“That was a real matchup game for us,” he said. “We knew whoever won that game was going to win the natty.”

Ohio State survived the Longhorns in a game clinched with Jack Sawyer’s 83-yard strip-sack and score. The Buckeyes then defeated Notre Dame 34-23 in the national title game.