Who’s the next Joe Burrow? Identifying 4 candidates who fit the mold

2019 Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow unexpectedly emerged as a legend for LSU. We break down who could be the next Joe Burrow in 2020.

The 2019 college football season is about to wrap up as the bowl season has only a few contests left before the off-season. It’s undeniable that the top storyline of what was an incredibly eventful year was the emergence of LSU star quarterback Joe Burrow as a superstar and eventual Heisman Trophy winner.

His statistical jump from 57.6 completion rate, 2,894 yards, 16 touchdowns and five interceptions to 77.6 completion rate, 5,208 yards, 55 touchdowns and six interceptions is as significant as you’ll find for a full-time starter. His film showed an equally incredible jump, as he was an average starter in 2018 in LSU’s antiquated offense. The arrival of former New Orleans Saints assistant Joe Brady as offensive coordinator seemingly transformed Burrow into the quarterback that Brady had just worked with in The Big Easy.

The scheme changed helped, but more credit needs to go to Burrow’s work on his footwork, delivery consistency, throwing when off-balance, and unmatched precision into tight passing windows. It’s impossible to have confidence that any player will take the step forward he did in one year.

The leap he made may never happen again, but there are several 2021 draft-eligible quarterbacks who share some of the traits and situation that helped Burrow climb draft boards from a Day 3 flier to No. 1 pick. We’ve identified four who aren’t likely to match Burrow’s Heisman-caliber season in terms of pure production but enter the off-season in a similar position as Burrow did this time last year.

Kyle Trask, Florida

Could the next Joe Burrow come from within the SEC? The Florida Gators found themselves a quarterback in 2019 when Kyle Trask came off the bench after Feleipe Franks was injured. He was efficient running his system and showed a willingness to break outside of the pocket to make downfield plays.

Trask posted better numbers than Burrow did as a junior, with a 66.9 completion rate, 2,941 yards, 25 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Those certainly don’t predict a similar breakout senior season, but highlights that Trask found comfort early in Dan Mullen’s proven quarterback-driven offense. Entering his senior campaign as the undisputed starter, now Mullen and Trask can focus on getting him to the next level.

Trait-wise, there are sharp similarities between the two. Trask has a good-enough arm, but not the natural arm strength that will put fear into defenders trying to stand in front of his passes. That’s okay, as Burrow decimated competition with an average arm.

What matters is ball placement and timing as he utilizes leverage. Trask showed an inclination towards having the ball placement needed for an NFL quarterback. He excels on slants and crossers already due to his knack for leading receivers away from the defender and protecting the ball.

Yards after the catch happen when a quarterback is sharp, and Trask has enough examples of maximizing YAC to believe he can continue improving his consistency. He also found decent success outside of the pocket after feeling pressure, which is where Burrow made his money in 2019. It’s hard to predict anyone becoming as good as Burrow in that area, but Trask is willing to be a creator.

Peyton Ramsey, Indiana

It’s possible that the best “next Joe Burrow” candidate doesn’t even win a starting job if he stays in his current situation in 2020. Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Peyton Ramsey has had increasing success throughout his career with the program but failed to win the starting job as a junior as freshman Michael Penix Jr. Ramsey supplanted him after injuries struck, and looked like a more polished and dangerous playmaker.

Ramsey’s a well-built modern quarterback at 6-foot-2 and 216 pounds, as his size allows his athleticism to shine. He’s a legitimate threat to create plays with his legs as a runner and passer outside of the pocket. Like Burrow, there’s a major “gamer” factor when he’s on the field.

His arm talent is solid and allows him to throw off platform and maintain accuracy. Though head coach Tom Allen runs a good scheme, Ramsey would benefit even more from a stronger supporting cast and system that mixes in more combination routes. He’s a smart passer who reads leverage effectively enough, but consistency and exposure to the NFL nuances that Joe Brady brought to LSU would benefit his growth.

Maybe Ramsey decides to transfer elsewhere or wins the job as a senior. He’s a gifted passer trending in the right direction and has continually shown toughness and a love for the game as he puts his body on the line to help his offense. That’s the type of heart Burrow has repeatedly demonstrated, and gives me hope that Ramsey’s not done developing either.

Holton Ahlers, East Carolina

Holton Ahlers is a name that you may have little or no familiarity with when it comes to NFL potential. The left-handed sophomore is still a ways off in his development to be considered a viable draft pick in 2021, but his 2019 already showed a leap in growth. Another leap in 2020 for the 6-foot-3, 235-pounder would put him on the map of scouts and analysts.

Ahlers improved his completion rate over 11 points to nearly 60 percent as a sophomore and saw a needed jump in his yards per attempt from 6.8 to 7.7 yards. He cleaned up his dropback enough to see the boost in accuracy and is becoming more reliable on three-step patterns and quick releases.

He’s still a project in many ways, but so was Burrow as a sophomore. His motion is a bit clunky, featuring a small hitch as his arm transitions from his windup. That little detail affects the timing of the ball’s arrival and the pattern of the pass.

He’s still prone to missing open guys and making poor decisions but he’s young and in an offense lacking talent. Often times he’s the only reason the Pirates were even competitive in their games. He’ll never benefit from an elite surrounding cast at ECU.

A path more like Jordan Love‘s or Josh Allen is probably more likely due to the comparisons with his style of play and measurements, but just in terms of natural talent and growth pattern, Ahlers is a name worth monitoring to see if that next level is attainable. If it is, he will be a massive riser.

Patrick O’Brien, Colorado State

The quarterback with the most arm talent of this bunch is Colorado State’s Patrick O’Brien. The 6-foot-5, 244-pounder looks every bit the part of an NFL quarterback, and will surely get a chance to prove himself at the next level in some form despite having a modest 13-to-seven touchdown-to-interception ratio as a junior. The former Nebraska transfer can massively benefit from going back to school for his senior season as Burrow did.

O’Brien found confidence and consistency as the season progressed and experience started bearing better results. His arm is very good, able to hit tight passing windows off RPOs and lead his receivers into space for YAC. There’s real red zone potential with his game because he’s willing to try tough passes and able to thread the needle.

His focus on throwing a catchable ball is the right launching point for his career. He’s a bit of a statue in the pocket and is limited with his ability to escape and extend, but his accuracy is good enough to push him upward in the 2021 quarterback discussion. Finding bigger plays hasn’t been an issue thanks to his comfort keeping his eyes downfield and an arm that has yet to fail him when he makes the right read and mechanics are tight.

O’Brien certainly will interest those who want to run a more traditional NFL offense and aren’t phased by his lack of mobility. Sure, Burrow has a more rangy skill set in that regard, but O’Brien can similarly make jaw-dropping throws with precision and timing. He’s not yet in the ballpark of stardom, but neither was Burrow this time last year.

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