Bengals QB Joe Burrow claims Ohio State in his own special way
When the Cincinnati Bengals drafted Joe Burrow, LSU was the school attached to his name. When he introduced himself on Sunday Night Football, he reminded the national audience he played at Athens High School. Sandwiched in-between those two programs was Ohio State, where Burrow graduated in three years while effectively riding the bench before transferring […]
When the Cincinnati Bengals drafted Joe Burrow, LSU was the school attached to his name. When he introduced himself on Sunday Night Football, he reminded the national audience he played at Athens High School.
Sandwiched in-between those two programs was Ohio State, where Burrow graduated in three years while effectively riding the bench before transferring to LSU for a chance to play. But does Burrow claim his original college?
"I always say I went to school at Ohio State, and I played football at LSU," Burrow answered during his Wednesday presser leading up to a Week 10 battle against OSU's most recent former quarterback, C.J. Stroud of the Houston Texans.
Burrow also asked if OSU should claim him as one of their quarterback successes in the NFL.
"You'll have to ask them."
If it was up to the fans, that wouldn't even be a discussion.
If nothing else, this is about as factual as it possibly could be. Burrow took 42 official drop backs for the Buckeyes during his three years with the program from 2015-17. When he was finally in a position to compete for the starting job during his final year in Columbus, a broken bone in his hand paved the way for Dwayne Haskins to start instead, leading to Burrow's transfer down south.
By graduating a year early, Burrow was able to focus solely on football at LSU. He got his first chance at starting in 2018, and following drastic changes to the offense that suited his strengths, he took off in 2019 towards college football immortality. He won the Heisman Trophy and National Championship that year on his way to becoming the Bengals' first-overall selection in the draft.
Would he have been able to accomplish this without three additional years of development with the Buckeyes? Perhaps not. But OSU fans who claim Burrow as one of their own will have to take this as a win.
Joe Burrow has hilarious exchange with Bengals legend
Joey B is always good for a laugh
