0 to 100: Joe Burrow

By Robert Rangel

Credit:https://lsusports.net/news/2019/12/3/football-hfp-sec-championship-preview-with-hester.aspx

Joe Burrow. The quarterback who went from a backup to having one of the greatest statistical seasons ever in college football history. He went from just another player to most likely the number one pick in this year's NFL Draft. 

It was the summer of 2017 and the college football season was getting ready to start. Joe Burrow was a redshirt sophomore for the Ohio St. Buckeyes. He was the backup to J.T. Barrett. However, in a Monday practice, Burrow broke his throwing hand. This injury sidelined him indefinitely for the season. He was replaced by Freshman Dwayne Haskins as the backup. This means Burrow was now the third string quarterback and was guaranteed no playing time. 

Burrow did not see the field in 2017. He competed in a quarterback competition in the spring of 2018 against Haskins for the starting position for the 2018 season. Urban Meyer and Ohio St. decided that Haskins had done enough and he beat out Burrow for the starting spot. With time running out, Burrow decided to transfer to LSU for his last two years of eligibility. It's a decision that changed his life forever. 

Joe Burrow won the starting position for LSU in 2018. He opened the season up against the number eight ranked Miami Hurricanes. LSU won the game 33-17. However, you may be surprised that Burrow only threw for 140 yards and zero touchdowns while completing only 45% of his passes. In fact, that is how most of the season was for Burrow. He completed his redshirt junior season with 2,894 yards passing with 16 touchdowns and five interceptions. He completed only 58% of his passes. LSU only averaged 228 yards passing a game. They were a run heavy team, averaging 174 yards rushing a game. LSU finished with a 10-3 record in 2018. They were ranked the number six team at the end of the season.

With a mediocre season, Burrow was entering his final season of eligibility. His NFL dreams were slipping away from him. Before the 2019-2020 college football season, Burrow was projected to be at best a fifth round pick in the NFL 2020 Draft. He was thought of as another quarterback who would serve as a team's backup or a practice squad player. Yet, Burrow believed in himself and proved everyone wrong. Burrow's redshirt senior season is one for ages.

LSU brought in Joe Brady for the 2019 season. Brady previously worked for the New Orleans Saints before coming to LSU. He is a young offensive assistant coach that was brought in to help boost LSU's lackluster passing game. Brady would help develop Burrow into college football's best quarterback in the 2019-2020 season. 

LSU came into the 2019-2020 season ranked the number six team in the country. They also came in with one of the toughest schedules in all of college football. However, the tough schedule did not faze Burrow or the Tigers.

Burrow orchestrated arguably the greatest statistical season for a quarterback in college football history. He finished with 60 passing touchdowns, which is ranked number one all-time for a quarterback in a season in college football history. To put in perspective how absurd this statistic is, Burrow threw more touchdowns in the 2019 season than the LSU program had accumulated from 2014-2017, where they recorded 59 touchdowns through the air. Burrow also owns the most touchdowns responsible for in a season in college football history with 65. Burrow finished the season with 5,671 passing yards, which is tied third all-time. He finished the season with a passing completion of 76.3%, which is second all-time. He has the highest passer rating ever in a college football season with a rating of 202. Burrow capped off the season winning the Walker Award, which goes to the best college football player that season, and the Davey O'Brien Award, which goes to the best quarterback in the college football season. He also won the Heisman Trophy, which is the most prestigious award in college football. Burrow dominated the college football playoff. He threw 14 touchdowns in the two playoff games. That is more than the Big Ten (13) and Pac-12 (12) have produced in the playoff's history, according to ESPN. Burrow also owns the record for most yards (521) and touchdowns (6) in a national championship game. 

Burrow led the LSU Tigers to a 15-0 record and national championship in 2019. LSU broke the record for most points (726) scored in a single season in college football, passing the 2013 Florida St. team. LSU beat seven ranked teams in 2019, which was the most by a team that season. Former LSU player, Marcus Spears said, "It's the best team that's ever been assembled at LSU." Ed Oregon, LSU head coach, said, "He's one of the greatest players in LSU history.... We are so grateful for Joe Burrow." 

After such a historical season, Joe Burrow is now predicted to go number one overall in this year's NFL Draft. NFL Draft analyst, Mel Kiper, said "...but it was one year of unbelievable greatness, and that's why he is going to be the No. 1 pick in the draft." The Cincinnati Bengals have the number one pick this year and need a quarterback. Burrow is an Ohio native. There is not a pick that makes more sense than the Bengals taking Burrow. The NFL Draft begins April 23 and ends April 25. Burrow is one of the greatest players in LSU history and we will see if he can continue his legacy at the next level.