Report: Joe Burrow to transfer to LSU
The grad transfer can play immediately, and it looks like it’ll be in Baton Rouge.
Joe Burrow is this year’s new highest-prized free agent quarterback. As a redshirt junior, he’s got two years of eligibility left, and can play immediately. Reportedly, he’ll be doing that at LSU. The Tigers have needed an instant-impact quarterback as the missing piece since the dawn of time
Breaking: #OhioState transfer QB Joe Burrow has picked LSU, according to highly-placed #UC source. Had narrowed it to LSU and #Bearcats.
— Tom Groeschen (@TomGroeschen) May 18, 2018
Burrow visited Cincinnati (where there is familiarity with head coach Luke Fickell) and was linked to Florida as well, which finds itself perpetually in the same boat as LSU. North Carolina got in on the sweepstakes too.
Ohio State grad transfer QB Joe Burrow has visited both Cincinnati and LSU this past week. Look for his third and final visit this week to be to North Carolina. I expect an announcement by possibly the end of this week from Burrow.
— Sean Callahan (@Sean_Callahan) May 15, 2018
It was never certain, but the writing has been on the wall for Burrow to transfer since the start of last season.
For more than a year, Burrow has been locked in a competition with Dwayne Haskins to be the heir-apparent to J.T. Barrett as the Buckeyes’ starting quarterback. Following the spring game in April 2017, Burrow appeared to have the lead over then-redshirt freshman Haskins. However, an injury less than a week before the start of the season stunted his progress, and Haskins thrived in the back-up role, especially against Michigan.
Burrow has all the tools, but it was in his best interest to move on from Columbus.
Physically, I don’t see limitations. He’s athletic as hell and can extend plays regularly. He’s got a damn strong arm and even shows some serious touch on a lot of his throws. He can complete deep outs. He’s strong and tough. He won Ohio Mr. Football. He was first-team all-state in high school. He turned in the best spring game performance of any of the Ohio State QBs.
He played in mop-up duty for the Buckeyes as a redshirt freshman before getting hurt, and the 6’3, 215-pounder was sought after coming out of high school as a four-star recruit. Burrow ranked eighth in dual-threat QBs in the 247Sports Composite rankings.
It looks like the Tigers got their man in the end.