Recruiting Should UF pursue Ohio State QB Joe Burrow if he transfers?

[BMF]

This kid graduates in May and is waiting to see what happens (where he falls on the depth chart) after spring. It seems he'll be the #2 (he was injured last year and Dwayne Haskins was the back up....who came in during the Michigan game and led OSU to 3 TD's to win in Ann Arbor). Meyer is trying to keep both QBs, but realizes Burrow will likely transfer if he's the #2.

Should Florida pursue Ohio State quarterback Joe Burrow if he transfers?

https://www.seccountry.com/florida/florida-ohio-state-quarterbacks-joe-burrow-grad-transfer

Many Florida fans have asked about the possibility of a graduate-transfer quarterback for the Gators.

I think that to be determined by Florida’s quarterbacks competition over the next month and what the transfer market looks like after spring football.

Ohio State quarterback Joe Burrow could a become potential option for Gators coach Dan Mullen and his staff. The redshirt junior is on pace to graduate in May and will contemplate transferring if he does not win the competition this spring with Dwayne Haskins.

If Burrow graduates and goes elsewhere, he would be able to play immediately in 2018 with two years of eligibility remaining. Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer told reporters Tuesday he would try to give Burrow an answer about the starting job by the end of spring.

“I have to talk to my parents about it, talk to my coaches, and just make a decision here in the near future,” Burrow told Land of 10. “I don’t know. I’m leaning toward staying.

“… I came to terms with it the last couple weeks. Either way, no matter what I do, I’m going to have to come out and compete somewhere.”

Burrow would have four quarterbacks to compete with at Florida: redshirt sophomores Feleipe Franks and Kyle Trask, redshirt freshman Jake Allen and true freshman Emory Jones. Their performances in practice could determine whether the Gators seek a grad-transfer quarterback.

Franks and Jones are considered the favorites heading into spring. If they meet those expectations and show they’re capable of starting this season, Mullen may decide to stick with his group and not add another quarterback to the mix.

However, if Franks or Jones struggle to pick up the offense and Trask or Allen do not emerge, it could be beneficial for the Gators to bring in somebody with Burrow’s background and experience.

Burrow has played in 11 games at Ohio State and was ranked the nation’s No. 8 dual-threat quarterback in the Class of 2015, according to the 247Sports composite. Florida also would make sense for Burrow because of Mullen’s history with Meyer.

I would not be surprised to see the Gators go this route if needed, but again, a lot will depend on how the quarterback battles play out at Florida and Ohio State.

 

[BMF]

Some comments from Meyer in this article:

How Joe Burrow fits into Ohio State’s quarterback picture — or not

https://theathletic.com/263615/2018...e-timeline-of-ohio-states-quarterback-battle/

Dwayne Haskins and Joe Burrow spent the first practice of spring Tuesday basically splitting everything 50-50, then Urban Meyer said what you'd expect him to say about the two quarterbacks after the first real day of the high-profile position battle: The two are basically even.

Meyer's boring, predictable, politically correct assessment of the quarterback situation is completely acceptable — and probably accurate — on this early-March day. We should believe Meyer doesn't know who the guy is right now, that he genuinely wants to give Haskins, Burrow and even redshirt freshman Tate Martell an equal chance to make this team theirs.

In six weeks, that response won't be acceptable.

By the time Ohio State's done with its spring game in mid-April, Meyer will clearly have a better idea of who the quarterback of the future is. And if it's not Burrow, Meyer feels as if he owes Burrow complete transparency in terms of what he should expect in the fall.

Why? Because Burrow is graduating this spring, and if he doesn't win the job, he can transfer to another program and start immediately.

In Meyer's perfect world, he'd like to have Haskins, Burrow and Martell on the roster come August. But that's probably not going to be the case.

“Without getting too deep, we've had conversations with his family, but we try to be as transparent with you guys without getting too nose deep into our meetings,” Meyer said of Burrow. “But the answer is probably yes (in terms of owing him an answer about his placement). My first obligation is Ohio State. But not far below that is the player and the family. So, yeah.”

That the conversation has always been about Burrow transferring and never about Haskins implies what we all know to be true: That Haskins is the frontrunner to land the job. The two quarterbacks were neck-and-neck at the beginning of last August, but an untimely broken hand put Burrow on the bench and Haskins in the backup spot, which had huge implications on playing time and experience.

Then Haskins was thrown into the Michigan game in the second half to replace an injured J.T. Barrett. The Buckeyes were down and in real danger of losing the game, but Haskins didn't skip a beat, led three scoring drives and helped Ohio State seal the win on the road. It was the type of heroic performance you'd expect from the quarterback of the future.

You could make the argument that Haskins won the job that day.

He didn't. Not yet. He did, however, make himself the favorite.

But given Burrow's current situation and his openness to at least considering a transfer if Haskins wins the job, you'd have to expect this to have a real impact on Meyer's timeline of the battle.

The last time Ohio State had a major quarterback battle was before the 2015 season between J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones — you remember that circus, don't you? — and Meyer never announced a starter. The world found out moments before kickoff of the season-opener at Virginia Tech. Meyer may be tempted to proceed that way again …

“I'd love to have them both in the fall and let them keep battling it out. I'd like that,” Meyer said Tuesday. “We've had that before, and I think it keeps people on pins and needles and performance, it's science, the performance is better when you have someone (on your heels). The discomfort of competition at times, that's when you're on point. If it's you by yourself, sometimes you have a tendency to be complacent. That's something that we've got to watch very closely.”

That's not Meyer's perfect scenario. He'd rather have a guy lock up the job in the spring and head into the summer as the man.

“I'd say (that's the) perfect scenario, yes,” he said. “But we don't live in those kinds of scenarios usually. And I told you I had it several times where you're nip and tuck with two guys going after each other with that spot or backup spot. I just love the competition.”

Now he's forced to live in that “lock it up by summer” scenario. Burrow's timeline speeds up the entire race.

Meyer cares about Ohio State and he cares about his players.

So the right thing to do is go all-in on the quarterback battle within the next six weeks, tell the players who won or is winning, let the players make decisions about their future and proceed into summer with an understanding of who this team's starting quarterback is.

 

[MertzJay26]

Yes

 

[AlexDaGator]

What are the chances Meyer announces Burrow is the leader (by a smidge) even if he isn’t just to keep him in Columbus?

He’s had QB injury problems in the past and I know he’d want to have that insurance policy.

Would he screw the kid over like that?


Alex.

 

[TheDouglas78]

What are the chances Meyer announces Burrow is the leader (by a smidge) even if he isn’t just to keep him in Columbus?

He’s had QB injury problems in the past and I know he’d want to have that insurance policy.

Would he screw the kid over like that?


Alex.

yes

 

[BMF]

What are the chances Meyer announces Burrow is the leader (by a smidge) even if he isn’t just to keep him in Columbus?

He’s had QB injury problems in the past and I know he’d want to have that insurance policy.

Would he screw the kid over like that?


Alex.

Read the second article. Meyer is saying the right things. He wants the kid to stay, but knows he's likely leaving. He's not beating out Haskins. Haskins showed in a real game (vs. Michigan) and led them to a comeback win, on the road. Burrows is very likely gone. There are several articles on it. Meyer is in a similar situation as Alabama was/is with only 2/3 QBs (he has 3 on scholarship....unless Burrow leaves). Bama brought in the ECU grad transfer to give them 3. What's great about this is we stuck it to both Alabama AND Ohio State by landing EJ!! :D

Unless something unexpected happens, the kid is gone:

Joe Burrow's uncertain future at Ohio State, and the transfer conversation that was always coming

http://www.cleveland.com/osu/2017/12/joe_burrow_on_his_uncertain_fu.html

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Joe Burrow had all eyes on him inside the Woody Hayes Athletic Center during Ohio State's Senior Tackle ceremony two weeks ago.

Part of that final send-off for Buckeye seniors includes an underclassman, usually someone who's learned by the side of the senior, giving some parting words and explaining from a teammate's perspective what that senior has meant to the program.

Burrow spoke on behalf of J.T. Barrett.

"That was pretty emotional for us. J.T. is one of my best friends here," Burrow said Saturday night in Indianapolis. "He's had a great career. It coming to an end got pretty emotional for us both."

Burrow has said in the past how he thinks he and Barrett, personality-wise, are very similar. Their playing styles appear to not be far off either. Burrow has been Barrett's teammate for three years, and together they've seen some weird situations in Ohio State's quarterback room. So it makes sense, just based on those facts, that Burrow would be emotional.

But as Burrow sat back against his locker in Lucas Oil Stadium after Ohio State's Big Ten Championship, you could hear in his voice that perhaps that moment carried a little extra weight for him because of the uncertainty that he's now facing.

Maybe that's too big of a reach, but Burrow appeared a little emotional even then.

A quarterback battle is coming at Ohio State. In a lot of ways it's already started. Burrow, thanks in part to a broken hand suffered just before the season, has fallen behind Dwayne Haskins, the strong-armed kid who many feel has already locked up the starting job for next season. That would mean another season of Burrow watching from the sidelines.

So Burrow has some decisions to make, things to evaluate. Some of those conversations have already begun.

"Me and Coach (Urban) Meyer have a really good relationship," Burrow said. "I think the trust between both of us is real, and it's true. We talk about it every once in a awhile, but it's hard to talk about things like that during the season when games and championships have to be won."

Some facts of the situation first:

* Haskins has been the No. 2 quarterback all season. That was confirmed when he came in for Barrett in the Michigan game, and said afterward that he had taken just about all the second-team reps all season.

* Burrow broke his hand in late August, and said he wasn't fully healthy until about the midway point of the season. He still has a sizeable scar on his right hand.

* Freshman Tate Martell is coming on, and will be looking to throw himself into the quarterback battle this spring.

* And lastly, the most important piece of this: Burrow is on track to graduate in May. That means he could transfer after spring ball, be immediately eligible to play somewhere else, and have two years of eligibility remaining.

For now, Burrow plans on being with the Buckeyes through the spring.

"That's the plan, yeah," he said when asked directly if he will stick around and compete for the starting job.

If he doesn't win it, he would be free to transfer and play immediately anywhere he chooses upon graduating in May.

If any part of this conversation seems presumptuous, or even a bit unfair, know that this was always going to be the unintended consequence of Ohio State accumulating quarterback talent at the rate it has. Burrow seems to understand that.

Meyer talked about it way back in July.

"It is real," Meyer said at Big Ten Media Days. "You have graduate transfers now. You have all of this opportunity for guys to move on, and guys wanna go play. Yes, we have talked about it. Yes, we are preparing as if something might happen, but we do that every year. These guys are grown men. The families are involved. This is stuff I've been a part of before. This is great conversation and we want what's best for the guy too."

The idea that Ohio State could somehow hold on to Haskins, Burrow and Martell -- by the way, Emory Jones is slated to join the team this winter too -- was wishful thinking. That's too much quarterback talent just sitting around.

Burrow, just based on the circumstances of his spot on the depth chart and his proximity to graduation, seems the most likely candidate to transfer. That's not a guarantee that it will happen, but a warning. Prepare for it.

If he hadn't broken his hand, maybe the circumstances would be different.

Burrow and Haskins were close as camp was winding down this summer. Meyer made it sound like they were practically even. Then Burrow, who was the No. 2 quarterback last year, hit his hand on a teammate's helmet while following through on a pass and broke his hand. We thought maybe that wouldn't mean the end of the competition. That Burrow could get healthy and re-engage with Haskins.

Turns out that was the end. Haskins was No. 2. Burrow hardly played at all this year while the coaching staff got a good, long look at Haskins.

"I wouldn't say I was too frustrated this year," Burrow said. "I was frustrated with the injury, but other than that I wasn't too frustrated."

He also had no idea where exactly things stood when he got injured.

"I don't really know," he said. "We didn't really have that discussion, because I broke my hand."

Maybe Burrow actually never had a chance once Haskins showed up. Maybe Haskins is just that good. That doesn't mean, though, that Burrow isn't good.

Don't forget we're talking about Ohio's Mr. Football, a player both Tom Herman and Meyer thought would be a great fit for this offense. He wasn't some throw in. Don't short-sell Burrow that way.

He will be a good college quarterback. It just might not happen at Ohio State.

 

[URGatorBait]

We have Trask....don't need Burrow

 

[BMF]

We have Trask....don't need Burrow

I'm not advocating for it, because I'm tired of the grad transfers....but he'd immediately be the best QB on the roster (at least the 'most ready'). EJ may, eventually, be better, but due to his age and time at OSU he'd be the best QB on the roster. Additionally, he has 2 years of eligibility - which would be the primary reason I'd like to see this happen.

He probably lands at Texas, since Herman recruited him. But who knows....

 

[deuce]

Unless Mullen guaranteed him the starting job, why come here?

 

[Jbossgator8]

Is he another LDR?

 

[BMF]

Is he another LDR?

A 4-star who won his state's Mr. Football? Or a twitter a-hole?

 

[Jbossgator8]

I didn't know LDR was a twitter twatter when we got him. Hindsight is 20/20 now isn't it?!

 

[Acecustis]

I'm not advocating for it, because I'm tired of the grad transfers....but he'd immediately be the best QB on the roster (at least the 'most ready'). EJ may, eventually, be better, but due to his age and time at OSU he'd be the best QB on the roster. Additionally, he has 2 years of eligibility - which would be the primary reason I'd like to see this happen.

He probably lands at Texas, since Herman recruited him. But who knows....

Texas is stacked at QB. If he wants to play he won't go there.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

Would he screw the kid over like that?

Serious question?

 

[GatorJ]

Williston was on top of this a while back…

Perhaps something to keep an eye on.......

https://www.google.com/amp/s/articles.cleveland.com/osu/2017/12/joe_burrow_on_his_uncertain_fu.amp

"And lastly, the most important piece of this: Burrow is on track to graduate in May. That means he could transfer after spring ball, be immediately eligible to play somewhere else, and have two years of eligibility remaining."

https://247sports.com/Player/Joe-Burrow-36575/high-school-60304

https://247sports.com/player/joe-burrow-36575

Good find. Too bad he wasn't able to transfer in December.

There are rumors out there Dan is looking for a grad transfer QB.

Is it too late?

I don’t know about Burrow’s ability, but he was a 4* out of HS, #2 on the depth chart behind Barrett and is therefore familiar with the offense. I think he’s a much better fit with Mullen than Zaire was with mac. We have a spare scholly... can’t hurt to try.

I was hoping we would try to bring someone in to add to the QB depth. Figure we’re likely to lose a few after spring.

I hear this guy can be a real jackass

Elaborate....

 

[Swamp Donkey]

He looks to much like LDR for my taste.

 

[CGgater]

He looks to much like LDR for my taste.

Does he post a lot of annoyingly condescending tweets?

 

[MertzJay26]

yes

You stole my line....

 

[GatorInGeorgia]

What are the chances Meyer announces Burrow is the leader (by a smidge) even if he isn’t just to keep him in Columbus?

He’s had QB injury problems in the past and I know he’d want to have that insurance policy.

Would he screw the kid over like that?


Alex.

“Do you trust me?” he said to Matt Elam in an effort to woo him back, only to resign again a year later, this time for good.

 

[Okeechobee Joe]

I’m sick of graduate transfer QBs. They remind me too much of Butters.