:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59782483/usa_today_9516755.0.jpg)
Per the Cincinnati Inquirer’s Joe Groeschen, LSU has landed, perhaps, its biggest recruit of 2018 with the news of quarterback Joe Burrow’s decision to join the team as a graduate transfer this summer. Although there has been no official word from LSU as of yet.
Burrow, the No. 2 quarterback for Ohio State, elected to transfer as a graduate with two seasons of eligibility remaining. He’ll join the team this summer for workouts and immediately join in the Tigers’ quarterback competition along with junior Justin McMillan, sophomore Myles Brennan and redshirt freshman Lowell Narcisse.
Burrow, a native of Athens, Ohio, signed with the Buckeyes as the No. 8 dual-threat quarterback prospect in the class of 2015, a four-star prospect in the 247 Sports Composite. Over the ensuing three years as a backup, he completed 29 of 39 passes for 287 yards with two touchdowns. An injury robbed him of much of the 2017 season, giving sophomore Dwayne Haskins the opportunity to excel in relief appearances.
The two competed for the job this spring with Haskins edging Burrow out, by all reports narrowly. Burrow punctuated the competition with a 15-of-22, 238-yard performance in the Ohio State spring game, with two touchdowns. He announced intention to transfer shortly thereafter.
This is a huge pickup for Ed Orgeron and offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger, with a huge assist from safeties coach Bill Busch, who is family friends with the Burrows and Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer. LSU worked to bring Burrow in for a visit with his family, and were able to sell him on the opportunity here as opposed to the comfort of home with Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell, who recruited Burrow to Ohio State out of high school.
Burrow provides the Tigers with a much more experienced option under center, a former blue-chip prospect with three years of work in a top-shelf college football program. Burrow will arrive and begin workouts with the team in June, and will have an excellent chance to step in as the starting quarterback this fall.