Ohio State Football: Denzel Ward draft stock high prior to NFL combine
The Ohio State football program has become known as DBU and now Denzel Ward will be another Buckeye cornerback chosen high in the NFL draft.
Cornerback Denzel Ward followed the typical path for most Ohio State football players at his position under Urban Meyer. Waiting and developing behind future first-round NFL draft picks.
His time spent waiting paid off. Ward started to shine in 2016 playing alongside Gareon Conley and Marshon Lattimore finishing with 23 tackles in a backup role.
He really blossomed in 2017 while taking over as leader of the Buckeyes’ secondary. Ward finished with 37 tackles and two interceptions earning him first-team All-Big Ten and first-team AP All-American.
Ward did not play in Ohio State’s bowl game against USC which is the newest trend among players with first-round potential.
No one can fault him for that. A senseless injury could have derailed his goal of becoming the Buckeyes’ fourth-consecutive defensive back to get selected in the first round of the NFL draft since 2015.
Will he join Eli Apple, Conley and Lattimore in the first-round club further cementing Ohio State’s position as Defensive Back U?
He will and he might go earlier than Apple did at No. 10.
Ward’s strengths are numerous. He’s quick, athletic, tight in press coverage and physical.
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He does not have many weaknesses, but some are pointing to his lack of height and slow reaction to looking back for the ball as drawbacks.
The only concern I have is did he benefit too much from playing behind the best defensive line in the country?
Maybe a little, but we definitely know Kerry Coombs and Greg Schiano develop elite, NFL-ready talent and Ward is in that boat.
Given the success rate of Ohio State players recently, I’ll be shocked if he falls below the Green Bay Packers at 14. Chicago and San Francisco both need cornerbacks.
My bet is the 49ers select him. They’ll be getting a shutdown corner and playmaker from day one.
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The only question at that point is, can Ward become the NFL’s Defensive Rookie-of-the-Year next season extending Ohio State’s streak to three?