NFL Draft 2020: Who is Joe Burrow? Everything you need to know about the likely number one pick

Top pick: Joe Burrow is widely expected to be taken first overall by the Cincinnati Bengals
AP

The NFL Draft may have a slightly strange feel this year, taking place in a fully virtual format because of the coronavirus pandemic, but it remains one of the most important days in the American football calendar.

A class of college stars will find out where their futures lie in the professional game as key franchise figures work from isolation in their own homes to select a new generation of NFL talent.

As we build up to the draft, Standard Sport will be taking a look at some of the key prospects, starting with Louisiana State University (LSU) quarterback Joe Burrow...

What’s the hype about?

Burrow had just about the finest college season imaginable last year.

Burrow led LSU to the National Championship title in January
Getty Images

Having transferred from Ohio State back 2018, the 23-year-old led LSU all the way to the National Championship during an undefeated 15-0 campaign, breaking the FBS record for touchdown passes in a season (60) in the process.

Seven of those came in the playoff drubbing of Oklahoma, with another five in the National Championship Game against Clemson, where he was offensive MVP.

He was also awarded the Heisman Trophy for the best player in college football, following in the footsteps of recent winners such as Kyler Murray, Baker Mayfield and Lamar Jackson.

Burrow claimed the award by the largest voting margin in history, with more than 90 per cent of first-place ballots.

Why shouldn’t we believe it?

The one major criticism being thrown at Burrow is that it took until his second season with LSU to produce the kind of performances that have made him the outstanding candidate to be the no1 pick.

Burrow had already had two seasons as back-up at Ohio State by the time he arrived in Louisiana, plus another as a redshirt QB, and there are still some experts wondering whether he could be a one-season wonder.

What have they said about him?

"I'm not sure we've ever seen a quarterback have the high level of sustained and consistent excellence against a very challenging schedule that Joe Burrow had this season." - Archie Manning, former NFL quarterback and father of Eli and Payton.

“That guy played a perfect season. Every single week he performed. He didn't show any signs of doubt or anything. That guy is something special.” - LSU wider receiver Justin Jefferson.

Burrow was awarded the Heisman Trophy, given to the best player in college football
Getty Images

Where will he end up?

The Cincinnati Bengals have the top pick this year and it would be a huge shock if they didn’t use it to select Burrow, who spent much of his childhood, including his entire high-school career, in Ohio.

He is already loved by football fans in the state, having used his Heisman Trophy acceptance speech to raise awareness of the poverty plaguing his hometown, sparking a fundraising effort that brought in almost $500,000 for local food banks.

There was a bump in the road earlier this year, when Burrow’s comments about wanting to go to a franchise committed to winning Super Bowls were interpreted as meaning he did not want to be drafted by Cincinnati, who have never claimed a league title.

But that is all water under the bridge now and the Bengals have already made some serious off-season moves to improve a roster that took until week 13 to win their first game last year.

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