Out of the shadows and into the spotlight: LSU’s Myles Brennan learned a lot from Joe Burrow

Joe Burrow was a great player while at LSU but his impact will still be felt on the 2020 Tigers despite being on the Cincinnati Bengals.

Joe Burrow had the greatest season we’ve ever seen from a quarterback in college football and Myles Brennan had a front-row seat to see history being made. Now, Brennan gets his chance to take all the lessons he learned from last year’s Heisman winner when he assumes the starting job for Ed Orgeron’s Tigers.

Brennan only appeared in eight games last year, attempting 40 passes, but the most important part of his season was being in the same quarterback room as Burrow and watching him study film, practice, prepare for Saturday and execute on Saturday.

That crash course in quarterback college will benefit Brennan as he prepares for his first opportunity to start for LSU. Burrow is gone but he’ll still have the lessons and the wisdom he gleaned from the No. 1 pick to help his transition from backup to Heisman candidate.

LSU offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger thinks Brennan’s patience will pay off in 2020.

“I think it was the best thing that happened to Myles,” LSU offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger told 104.5 ESPN Baton Rouge. “The best thing that happened to him was sitting in a room and watching film with Joe and studying Joe and everything else. I saw the difference in Myles Brennan in three practices this spring that I have not seen since he’s been here. He’s more focused. He understands what it takes to be a great quarterback and I think Joe taught him that. I think he’s ready for it. He’s done everything we’ve asked him to do. … I’m excited to see him run this offense.”

LSU spring practice was abbreviated this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but despite only having three practices, the development and growth in Brennan was apparent. That should be exciting for LSU fans who may be expecting a significant letdown this year after last season’s thrilling undefeated national championship season.

Brennan won’t be Burrow, and it’s unfair to expect him to be Burrow, but having Burrow as a teacher is the best possible situation Brennan could have been in last year. Sure, he probably was disappointed he had to wait a little longer to compete for the starting job, but his patience should be rewarded this fall.

It’ll help that Brennan has Ja’Marr Chase to throw to this season after he won the Biletnikoff last year. Pretty much everyone else is gone from that LSU offense but despite the many changes, there should be a calming effect knowing Brennan is a graduate of the Burrow quarterback camp and had the best example of how to do it right.

Burrow’s leap from 2018-2019 was unheard of, but considering Brennan has only thrown two career touchdowns, Tigers fans can expect to see Brennan have a Burrow-esque breakout. While I’m not predicting Brennan to win the Heisman or the national title, he is among the Heisman favorites, and I am willing to predict Brennan puts up big numbers at LSU and keeps them in the national conversation all year and puts himself in position to be an NFL Draft pick.

As we’ve seen, a lot can change in one year. Brennan had the perfect blueprint to follow.

It’s in his hands now to fulfill his destiny.

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