Sophomore wide receiver Carnell Tate, 17, and junior defensive back Denzel Burke, 10, take on the challenge during Ohio State University's spring practice.Credit: Courtesy of Ohio State Athletics
When good players play against each other, they can only improve their skills and become better in the process. In other words, “iron sharpens iron.”
This has proven to be true in the battle between wide receivers and defensive backs on Ohio State's roster this spring, and it was a game to watch in the Buckeyes' spring game on Saturday.
Sophomore wide receiver Carnell Tate said playing against such an impressive secondary has helped his development, especially as his competitiveness in practice is at an all-time high.
“It’s more than that. [competitive] We have more receivers than last year who are willing to talk and get out there and show the DBs what we’re going on,” Tate said. “We have the best corners in the country, so playing against them makes the game easier.”
The Buckeyes' defensive back group, commonly known as the Best in America (BIA), suffered a downturn in 2020-2021, ranking 122nd in all of college football and 96th in pass defense. After these struggles, head coach Ryan Day decided to renew the team in 2022 by hiring former Buckeye cornerback Tim Walton.
He became the most highly regarded recruiter on the staff. 247 sports In 2024, the Buckeyes acquired top-60 cornerback prospects Bryce West and Aaron Scott for their contributions to a star-studded cornerback room heading into the 2024 season.
Headlining the room will be senior cornerback Denzel Burke, who started all three years of his career for the Buckeyes, junior cornerback Davison Igbinosun and sophomore cornerback Jermaine Matthews Jr. All three will play key roles on a 2023 defense that ranks third in college football. 4.17 yards per play.
On the back end of the defense, the Buckeyes look solid with the return of fifth-year safety Lathan Ransom and the acquisition of former freshman All-American safety Caleb Downs from Alabama.
Wide receivers coach Brian Hartline said the strength of this defensive back group makes practice more enjoyable and better than in past years when Ohio State didn't have the same solidity on the back end of the defense. He said he is doing so.
“Competition is great. It increases the sizzle, the squealing, the fun,” Hartline said. “At one point, it wasn't. It's a lot of fun, they win, we win, it's back and forth every day and it's a heavyweight battle.”
Even as the secondary improves, the wideout talent remains the same. With the departure of 2023 Biletnikov winner Marvin Harrison Jr. Jeremiah Smith is the No. 1 ranked recruit in the United States.
The highly touted freshman wide receiver could be the perfect player to fill the void left by Harrison. At Ohio State University's annual Student Appreciation Day on March 30, his skills were on full display, including catching passes. Downs and Burke.
Downs said Smith is an important piece to this year's team.
“Very elite athlete, very instinctive player, great ball skills,” Downs said. “It should have a big impact this year.”
In addition to Smith, the room also gets former five-star recruit Emeka Egbuka for an extra year. He elected to return for his senior year, hoping to build on an already impressive Buckeye career in which he had amassed 16 touchdowns, 124 receptions, and 1,857 receiving yards.
Competition in both rooms will be on full display on Saturday. The question is, which one will live up to their respective expectations?
