Joe Burrow began his college career at Ohio State, and even though he spent more time with the Buckeyes than he did at LSU, his on-field impact as a Tiger was far greater.
As a result, Fox Sports’ Joel Klatt isn’t onboard with OSU fans who try to claim Burrow as one of their own. The same goes with Alabama fans claiming Jalen Hurts.
“I’m sure that he [Jalen Hurts] has a big place in his heart for Alabama, but he had to leave,” Klatt said Monday, via Saturday Tradition. “Like, this whole notion – and I see Ohio State doing it with Joe Burrow, and Alabama doing it with Jalen Hurts – it’s like, listen, those guys had to leave. You can argue that they had the most success in college uniforms away from those schools. Certainly in Burrow’s case and you can argue in Jalen Hurts’ case.”
Klatt feels that Crimson Tide and Buckeye fans should focus on players who closed out their career at those programs.
“Hey Bama and Ohio State, you don’t get to claim Burrow and Jalen Hurts,” he said. “You’ve got enough guys to claim. Let’s be honest, these guys are for OU and LSU.”
There are certainly some people who will disagree with Klatt’s take here. Burrow and Hurts themselves might feel differently.
Burrow redshirted at Ohio State as a freshman in 2015 before throwing 39 passes in a reserve role over the next two seasons.
He transferred to LSU during the 2018 offseason and spent his final two college campaigns in Baton Rouge.