Two Ohio State football players made ESPN's college football top 10 defensive backs

The Ohio State football team has high hopes coming into the 2024 season, and ESPN is now starting to roll out its top ten list for different positions. For the defensive backs list two Buckeyes were able to make it. Those two are safety Caleb Downs and corner Denzel Burke.

Caleb Downs, who transferred from the Crimson Tide, had two interceptions, three passes defended, and 107 tackles last year in the 2023 season. Even before the addition of Downs in 2023, Ohio State was top ten in pass protection. He was ranked fourth on the list, with Michigan's Will Johnson, Travis Hunter from Colorado, and Malaki Starks from Georgia, being ahead of him.

Caleb Downs lost his black stripe about a week ago, just a couple of days into spring practice. Despite a whole lot of rumors of him transferring back to Alabama, Caleb Downs has fit in perfectly and the team seems to enjoy having him there.

Then Denzel Burke was able to come up at sixth on the top 10 list. He was probably one of Ohio State's top defensive backs. He accumulated an interception, 8 passes defended, and 24 tackles last year. He finished seventh in the Big Ten in completion percentage allowed, 38.5%, he only surrendered just .88 yards per snap in coverage and allowed only one touchdown throw on him.

It's clear that the Buckeyes have two outstanding players in coverage, there's another safety that wasn't in ESP'sN top 10 that still is really good. That Buckeye would be Davison Igbinosun. Last season for Ohio State he was able to find 59 tackles and 5 passes defended. Unfortunately, he was unable to find any interceptions. He's just another great piece to help with Ohio State's pass coverage.

Ohio State's entire defense is filled with talent everywhere, from the defensive line all the way to the safety. They were able to bring back a ton of great players and that's something that will give them the edge mentally and physically.