LSU QB Joe Burrow Wins Heisman Trophy In A Historic Landslide
LSU quarterback Joe Burrow's magical senior season continued Saturday night in Manhattan, as he added another award to his already loaded trophy case. The Heisman Trophy.
Burrow is the second player in LSU history to receive the award, given to college football's best player. The late Billy Cannon, tailback for the Tigers in the late 50s, earned the Heisman in 1959.
Burrow didn't just win the Heisman, he did so in a historic landslide.
Burrow surpassed previous Heisman winner Troy Smith (2006) for the highest percentage of 1st place votes with 90.7% and the highest percentage of possible points with 93.8%. He surpassed O.J. Simpson for the largest margin of victory with 1,846 points, and the highest percentage of ballots received at 95.5%.
An emotional Burrow began his speech by thanking his offensive line, then other teammates on offense, before looking at his parents and thanking his family.
He shared how much he respected his fellow Heisman finalists in defensive end Chase Young and quarterback Justin Fields from Ohio State, and Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts.
He then thanked Ohio State for his time there, before opening up about how grateful he was to LSU and the entire state of Louisiana.
"To the entire state of Louisiana, thank you for welcoming a kid from southeast Ohio to the Bayou, and accepting me like family," said Burrow. "I've grown to love crawfish and gumbo."
Burrow saved LSU head coach Ed Orgeron for last.
"Coach O," said Burrow before pausing and briefly crying. "You have no idea how much you mean to my family. I didn't play for 3 years (at Ohio State), and you took a chance on me, not knowing if I could play or not. I'm forever grateful for you....Can you imagine a guy like Coach O, giving me the keys to his football program? He just means so much to me and my family. And to LSU, I hope they give him a lifetime contract, he deserves it."
In addition to the Heisman, Burrow has won Davey O’Brien Award (best quarterback) the Maxwell Award (best player), was named the AP Player of the Year, SEC Player of the Year, 1st team All-American on every outlet that releases one, and more.
Burrow set school and SEC-records this year with 48 touchdowns and 4,715 yards, completing 78% of his throws, bringing an LSU offense once seen as archaic, to a new age spread attack that is arguably the most potent in the country.
When Burrow arrived at LSU as a graduate transfer from Ohio State before the 2018 season, no one could have envisioned the degree of success he has achieved.
Prior to the season, Burrow was seen by draft pundits as a mid-round NFL draft pick, at best. Now, he's likely to be the #1 overall selection at the NFL Draft in April.
However, before a career in the pros, the Heisman Trophy winner has more business to attend to with the Tigers.
#1 LSU and Burrow have their focus set on Heisman Finalist quarterback Jalen Hurts and the #4 Oklahoma Sooners, as the two teams are set to play on December 28th, at the Peach Bowl College Football Playoff semi-final in Atlanta.
With a win by the Tigers, there's a chance Burrow could see the other two finalists, and his former team, the #2 Ohio State Buckeyes in the College Football Playoff National Championship on January 13th in New Orleans.
The Buckeyes play #3 Clemson in the Fiesta Bowl College Football Playoff semi-final in Tempe, Arizona in two weeks.