Denzel Burke

NoteCARDS:

• Selected by the Cardinals in the fifth round (174th overall) of the 2025 NFL Draft out of Ohio State.
• A native of Phoenix, he was a standout prep DB and WR who attended Brophy College Prep (Phoenix) before transferring to Saguaro (Scottsdale) High School. Became the first Arizona native drafted by the Cardinals since the team took CB Byron Murphy Jr. in 2019.
• Set the record for the most starts by a defensive back (51) at Ohio State, joining a 50-start club at the school that includes just two other players: Billy Price (2014-17) and Luke Fickell (1993-96).
• Played alongside fellow draft picks LB Cody Simon, OL Paris Johnson Jr. and WR Marvin Harrison Jr. at Ohio State for two years (2021-22).

NoteCARDS:

• Selected by the Cardinals in the fifth round (174th overall) of the 2025 NFL Draft out of Ohio State.
• A native of Phoenix, he was a standout prep DB and WR who attended Brophy College Prep (Phoenix) before transferring to Saguaro (Scottsdale) High School. Became the first Arizona native drafted by the Cardinals since the team took CB Byron Murphy Jr. in 2019.
• Set the record for the most starts by a defensive back (51) at Ohio State, joining a 50-start club at the school that includes just two other players: Billy Price (2014-17) and Luke Fickell (1993-96).
• Played alongside fellow draft picks LB Cody Simon, OL Paris Johnson Jr. and WR Marvin Harrison Jr. at Ohio State for two years (2021-22).

College Career:

In four seasons (2021-24) with the Buckeyes, started all 51 games played and totaled 143 tackles, four INTs (one returned for a TD), 28 passes defensed, nine tackles for loss and a forced fumble … a two time team leader in passes defensed (2021, 2023), left OSU ranked sixth in school history with 28 passes defensed … had one game with three passes defense and six outings with two passes defensed in his career … in 2021, he became the first OSU true freshman to start the season opener on defense since Andy Katzenmoyer in 1996; started all 13 games that season to set school record for true freshman snaps at CB.

2024: Started all 16 games for the Ohio State's National Championship team and earned Honorable Mention All-Big 10 accolades for the second time … established career highs for tackles (48) and INTs (2) to go along with two passes defensed and three tackles for loss on his way to his third-team All-Big 10 selection … part of an Ohio State defense that ranked in the top-5 nationally in at least eight major statistical categories, including ranking #1 in both total defense and scoring defense and #3 in rushing and passing defense … had seven tackles, including one for a loss, in the Buckeyes four-game run through the CFP, including a three-tackle performance in the National Championship Game win vs. Notre Dame (1/20/25).

2023: Started all 11 games played and earned first-team All-Big 10 honors from the conference coaches after recording 10 total passes defensed (nine pass breakups; 1 INT) and had 24 tackles, three tackles for loss and a forced fumbled … led the Buckeyes in total passes defensed (10) and pass breakups (nine) … had six total passes defensed (five pass breakups, 1 INT) through the first three games of the season … tied his season high with five tackles in the Cotton Bowl vs. Missouri (12/29).

2022: Started all 11 games played and had 34 tackles, five passes defensed and three tackles for loss on his way to Honorable Mention All-Big 10 honors … had at least one tackle in all 11 games, including eight outings with multiple stops … started the year with four passes defensed through the first three games of the season.

2021: Started all 13 games as a true freshman, becoming the first Buckeye true freshman to start a season opener since All-American LB Andy Katzenmoyer in 1996 … named a Freshman All-American (ESPN, The Athletic) and earned third-team All-Big 10 honors after totaling 37 tackles and 13 total passes defensed (12 pass breakups, 1 INT) … his 12 pass breakups rank 10th in school single-season history … did not allow a TD reception his entire freshman year … made a big impression in his college debut, putting up four tackles and a career-high three passes defensed in a win @ Minnesota (9/2) … started the year with six passes defensed through the first three games … totaled three tackles and a pass defensed in OSU's 48-45 victory over Utah (1/1/22) in the Rose Bowl.

Personal:

Attended Brophy College Prep (Phoenix, AZ) High School for two seasons (2017-18) before spending his final two seasons (2019-20) at Saguaro (Scottsdale, AZ) High School … was a standout WR and DB … a four-star prospect coming out of Saguaro, was named the #1 game-changing CB and athlete in the state by the Arizona Republic and the #8 ranked athlete in the country according to 247Sports … had his senior year (2020) limited to one game due to injury … appeared in seven games as a junior at Saguaro in 2019 and averaged 44.7 receiving yards per game with seven TD receptions … also added two INTs on defense … as a sophomore at Brophy, totaled 50 receptions for 719 yards while averaging 84.2 all-purpose yards per game … graduated from Ohio State in December of 2024 with a bachelor's degree in Sports Industry.