Joe Burrow is set to make his return to the Cincinnati Bengals’ starting lineup on Thanksgiving. It’s a great time to remember the greatness he produced in college. A look at Burrow’s college statistics takes us through his journey and serves as a great reminder of why the Bengals were so high on him at the NFL Draft.
Joe Burrow Sits Behind Buckeyes’ Star
While everyone remembers his final school, Burrow actually started his collegiate career at Ohio State. He sat behind Buckeyes star quarterback J.T. Barrett in his first season, though multiple blowouts helped him see the field.
Burrow put up pedestrian numbers as a backup, but showed his ability to be accurate and take care of the football. The problem was that there was no guarantee he would start anytime soon with Barrett around, and Ohio State continued recruiting top names at the position.
- PFSN College QBi Score: N/A
- Completions: 22
- Attempts: 28
- Yards: 226
- TDs: 2
- INTs: 0
- Rush Attempts: 12
- Rush Yards: 58
- Rush TDs: 1
New Competition Adds Adversity to Sophomore Season
Any quarterback committing to Ohio State knows the guarantee of competition in Columbus. Burrow came back for another year with the Buckeyes, but saw his opportunities dwindle thanks to the arrival of the late Dwayne Haskins.
Barrett once again was the starter, but it was Haskins jumping Burrow to take the backup spot. With this movement and a continued trend of recruiting elite quarterback talent, Burrow decided it was time to head elsewhere.
- PFSN College QBi Score: N/A
- Completions: 7
- Attempts: 11
- Yards: 61
- TDs: 0
- INTs: 0
- Rush Attempts: 3
- Rush Yards: -5
- Rush TDs: 0
The Burrow Legend Genesis
Entering the 2018 season, the LSU Tigers needed a quarterback to emerge. A run of average play at the position didn’t hinder the team’s success, but it did limit the program’s ceiling.
Burrow wasn’t the most highly coveted transfer, but he did give them a new face that could elevate the team. He battled with Myles Brennan and ultimately won the job. He helped LSU start the year with a five-game winning streak, and ended the regular season with an epic effort in a 74-72 loss to Texas A&M in seven overtimes.
A solid season for the Tigers landed them in the Fiesta Bowl against the UCF Knights. While his numbers leading into that game weren’t incredible, the legend of Joe Burrow was about to get started.
Burrow threw an interception to the Knights’ defensive back Brandon Moore, and in the process got obliterated on a crack back block by Joey Connors. Burrow and the Tigers used that as motivation, leading his team to an incredible performance in which he threw for 394 yards and four touchdowns.
Fortunately for Burrow and his team, the best was yet to come.
- PFSN College QBi Score: N/A
- Completions: 219
- Attempts: 379
- Yards: 2,894
- TDs: 16
- INTs: 5
- Rush Attempts: 128
- Rush Yards: 399
- Rush TDs: 7
Burrow’s Legendary Record-Breaking Season
Thanks to the return of Burrow, Justin Jefferson, and Ja’Marr Chase, the Tigers felt confident heading into the 2019 season. Any questions about the Tigers’ passing attack were quickly erased thanks to their star quarterback.
The Tigers outscored their first four opponents by an average of 34.5 points. Burrow shone when ninth-ranked Texas came to town, throwing for 471 yards and four touchdowns. The season ultimately proved to be a legendary one for LSU, with its offense setting records for most points, total offense, and wins against a Top 10 team.
Burrow himself broke multiple records as well, including his 5,671 passing yards, 60 passing touchdowns, and the most significant margin of victory for the Heisman Trophy. LSU went 15-0 and dominated its way to a national championship.
- PFSN College QBi Score: 91.9 (A-)
- Completions: 402
- Attempts: 527
- Yards: 5,671
- TDs: 60
- INTs: 6
- Rush Attempts: 115
- Rush Yards: 368
- Rush TDs: 5