Quarterback Joe Burrow will transfer from Ohio State

5/8/2018
BY NICHOLAS PIOTROWICZ
BLADE SPORTS WRITER

COLUMBUS — In a conclusion that has been suspected for months, quarterback Joe Burrow will not finish his college career at Ohio State.

The redshirt junior, who battled with Dwayne Haskins to be J.T. Barrett’s backup last season then again for the open starting job this spring, announced his intention to transfer Tuesday in a Twitter post.

“After weeks of struggling with this decision, I have decided to leave Ohio State and explore other options,” Burrow wrote. “My teammates and coaches all know the love I feel for them. I will decide where I will play next year in the coming weeks.”

Burrow, who graduated from Ohio State last weekend, now can transfer penalty free as a graduate student. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer said earlier this spring he hoped all his quarterbacks from spring football would continue the competition into training camp, but Burrow’s decision to transfer gives Haskins an unimpeded path to the starting role.

VIDEO: QB Joe Burrow transferring from Ohio State

Haskins wished luck to Burrow, writing, “Appreciate you for making me better, see you at the top.”

The move leaves the Buckeyes thin on experience at quarterback. Haskins played admirably after replacing an injured Barrett at Michigan, completing 6 of 7 passes, setting up a touchdown with a key scramble, and winning the game, but the rest of his playing time at Ohio State has come in blowouts.

Behind Haskins are two scholarship quarterback who have zero collegiate snaps between them. Tate Martell will be the the backup, but he redshirted last season, his first on campus. True freshman Matthew Baldwin, who enrolled in January, is coming off major knee surgery and has not undergone contact practice yet.

Burrow originally chose OSU after starring in state at Athens High School. His father, Jimmy, is the longtime defensive coordinator at Ohio.

Upon arriving at Ohio State, Burrow spent all three years behind Barrett. During training camp in 2017, Burrow and Haskins competed to be the No. 2 quarterback, a role that ultimately went to Haskins after Burrow broke his hand in August.

During spring practice, Burrow said he was conflicted about what he would do after graduation.

On one hand, Burrow said leaving “would be pretty devastating for me,” but on the other, he thought he was good enough to start somewhere, if not Ohio State.

With playing time unlikely at Ohio State, Burrow’s move into the open market is official.

"I came here to play,” Burrow said after the spring game. “I didn't come here to sit on the bench for four years. I know I'm a pretty darn good quarterback and I want to play somewhere."

Contact Nicholas Piotrowicz at: npiotrowicz@theblade.com, 419-724-6110, or on Twitter @NickPiotrowicz.