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Ohio State’s Denzel Ward is a tantalizing prospect

By Matt Verderame

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 02: Ohio State Buckeyes cornerback Denzel Ward (12) lines up on the outside during the Big 10 Championship game between the Wisconsin Badgers and Ohio State Buckeyes on December 2, 2017, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN. (Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 02: Ohio State Buckeyes cornerback Denzel Ward (12) lines up on the outside during the Big 10 Championship game between the Wisconsin Badgers and Ohio State Buckeyes on December 2, 2017, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN. (Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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The NFL Draft is more than two months away, but Ohio State star Denzel Ward is emerging as a potential steal.

Oftentimes, the NFL Draft is about sizing up a player’s individual talents and deciding whether they can translate to the next level. This is true of Denzel Ward, Ohio State’s latest corner phenom, but recent history should also play a factor here.

Ward, a First-Team All-American last season, is going in the top half of the first round according to every reputable mock draft, and for good reason. Despite being only 5-foot-10 and 191 pounds, the Ohio native has all the traits of a stud, something easy to see on his film.

Last year, a bevy of mock drafts had Buckeyes corner Marshon Lattimore going no later than the No. 7 pick, where the Los Angeles Chargers chose. He seemed a sure shot to go either fifth or sixth as well, with both the Tennessee Titans and New York Jets laying in wait.

Instead, the Titans and Chargers took receivers Corey Davis and Mike Williams, respectively. The Jets settled on safety Jamal Adams, upgrading a different level of their secondary. New York fans should be pleased with their team, but Tennessee and Los Angeles have explaining to do.

Both Davis and Williams spent most of the year injured, while Lattimore, who went to the New Orleans Saints at the 10th spot, was a revelation. The 21-year-old reached the Pro Bowl and appears likely to join the ranks of Jalen Ramsey and Marcus Peters as the next wave of top-flight corners.

In recent years, the Buckeyes have churned out one top-end corner after the next. While Eli Apple appears to be on his way to Bustville, Gareon Conley remains an unknown after missing almost his entire rookie campaign due to a shin injury.

So where does Ward fall in this group from Columbus? For starters, Ward is technically sound. He can jam at the line and then turn and run, opening his hips. He’s also patient in off-man and shows a good understanding of zone, giving him the trifecta. Factor in a willingness to attack the ball — and the ballcarrier — and there’s little not to like.

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That said, the knock you’ll consistently about him is size. While Ward is expected to run well at the NFL Scouting Combine in early March, there are concerns about his frame. However, it should be noted that Lattimore is only two inches taller and a pound heavier. The NFL is also littered with smaller corners coming out of school who have become tremendous assets, including Chris Harris Jr (5-foot-9, 194), Brent Grimes (5-foot-9, 177) and Casey Hayward (5-foot-11, 185).

In this age of pass-heavy offenses, corners have never been more valuable. While quarterbacks will fly off the board early, Ward should settle in Indianapolis Colts (No. 3 overall), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (No. 7) or San Francisco 49ers (No. 9). The only other corner rivaling Ward’s ability is Alabama’s Mincah Fitzpatrick, also coming from a school loaded to the hilt with defensive back pedigree.

Come April 28, Ward will hear his name called, giving him a chance to prove his worth.

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