Denzel Ward was selected by the Cleveland Browns with the fourth overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft and during his rookie season he showed some glimpses of why he could be one of the best cornerbacks in the league. As a rookie, he had three interceptions and 53 tackles and was frustrating to opposing wide receivers.
There is more to Ward than just the player on the field, so let's look at four things you need to know about the former Ohio State Buckeyes star.
4. Has his own foundation
After being drafted by the Browns, Ward started the “Make Them Know Your Name” foundation in memory of his father who passed away in 2016. Paul Ward passed away from cardiac arrest, so Ward along with his sister started the foundation focused on education, prevention, and treatment so other families don't have to go through the same thing their family had to.
The name comes from his father who always reminded his son to make sure everyone knew his name when he stepped onto the field.
“He believed that a man’s name was everything, and that it was a man’s responsibility to make sure his name stood for something,” Ward said via ohio.com. “Every time I stepped on the football field, my dad would say, ‘Make them know your name.’ ”
3. Helped pay off his mothers house
A lot of players like to buy a fancy car for themselves or a nice house after receiving their first NFL paycheck, but that wasn't the case for Ward.
Ward didn't buy his mom a house because she already had a house she was living in, but Ward did pay off the rest of the mortgage so she didn't have that hanging over her head.
“I actually just did something for her for Mother's Day,” Ward revealed to the NFL Total Access on the NFL Network. “I'm paying for the mortgage for her house — I'm paying her house off — so she doesn't have to worry about that anymore.”
2. Was a high school track champion
Ward is incredibly fast and in 2015 as a senior in high school, he won the 200-meter title in 21.65 seconds. He was also a part of the 4×400 relay team.
That speed has translated well in the NFL and when he ran the 40-yard dash at the combine he had a blazing speed of 4.32 seconds which is the fastest of the 2018 draft class.
1. Ward is a bit of a folk hero in Ohio
Ward grew up in Ohio and attended Nordonia High School. He was recruited nationally, but once the Ohio State Buckeyes offered him a scholarship he knew there was nowhere else he would rather be.
He was a shutdown corner with the Buckeyes and now that he is playing his pro football in the state of Ohio that folk hero should only grow.
If Ward's game continues to grow and the Browns do take a big step forward this year, he is going to be more loved as his career continues on.
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