Ohio State seniors detail decision-making process for returning: 'We're trying to etch out names in history'
In an era of college football when hundreds of players annually enter the transfer portal or attempt to join the professional ranks, several of Ohio State‘s veterans decided to run it back. At the 2024 Big Ten Media Days, each of the OSU standouts broke down their decision.
“Just a lot of prayer. Just being in tune with my Lord and just understanding that I want to be able to come back and win it all with my brothers here and get a pair of gold pants,” cornerback Denzel Burke said. “Finish this thing off the right way and etch my name in history, and etch our names in history as one of the best teams to ever play at Ohio State.”
Burke will be a senior in the 2024 campaign. He has started all 35 games he has played in the past three years and could surpass William White (46 starts between 1984-87) for the school record for starts by a cornerback.
Despite his excellent résumé, Burke believes he has unfinished business at Ohio State and he’s far from alone. Wide receiver Emeka Egbuka echoed Burke’s comments.
“Most players on the team who decided to return went through their own process and we did everything we did, looked at all the resources we offered, and we came back to each and we were like, ‘I think I want to come back,'” Egbuka said.
“It was something that we all did individually but it was very reassuring to me that we were all on the same page and we’re trying to etch our names in history.”
Egbuka has an excellent chance to achieve individual history in the upcoming season. The graduate receiver only needs 78 more receptions to shatter K.J. Hill’s school record of 201, set between 2016-19. Of course, Ohio State’s team leaders returned for far more than individual glory.
“For me, growing up in Columbus, being a Buckeye since I can remember, it definitely hits a little bit closer to home for me,” defensive end Jack Sawyer said. “I know that these guys feel the same way that I do up here about those guys up north and another chance to beat them and do it for the city of Columbus.
“We decided to all come back. I just texted these guys and was like, ‘Look, we have such a great team and if we all decide to come back, the chances and the opportunities are limitless. We have the team to accomplish all three of our goals: beat the team up north, win the Big Ten title and then a national title after that.’ That’s our main goal, our main focus and the biggest factory my why, as far as coming back.”
Ohio State has not defeated Michigan since 2019 and has not won the conference title since 2020. This year, the Buckeyes will look to break both losing streaks en route to a national championship.