Quarterback Joe Burrow, who graduated from Ohio State on Sunday, just announced that he will transfer to a new school for this fall.
Burrow was locked in a battle with redshirt sophomore Dwayne Haskins for the starting job coming out of spring football.
Burrow announced his decision on Twitter on Tuesday morning.
He wrote, “After weeks of struggling with this decision, I have decided to leave Ohio State and explore other options. My teammates and coaches all know the love I feel for them. I will decide where I will play next year in the coming weeks.”
As a graduate transfer, Burrow will be immediately eligible to play this fall wherever he goes.
Ohio State has the option of blocking him from transferring to certain schools. Burrow has strong family ties to the University of Nebraska, a school that appears on the Buckeyes’ 2018 and 2019 schedules.
His father is an assistant coach at Ohio University, making the Bobcats another possible transfer destination.
Former OSU head coach Luke Fickell would almost certainly welcome Burrow to the Cincinnati Bearcats. The Florida Gators, coached by another former Meyer assistant, Dan Mullen, are another possibility.
Burrow came to OSU as a 4-star prospect in the 2015 class.
He racked up ridiculous numbers as the star quarterback at Athens High School. Burrow racked up nearly 7,000 yards and 94 touchdowns passing and more than 1,400 yards and 22 scores on the ground in two seasons as the starter there.
Burrow spent three years as a Buckeye, redshirting in 2015, and backing up J.T. Barrett in 2016 and 2017.
He was seemingly set to resume his spot as the No. 2 quarterback last fall, but broke his hand during a practice in August.
That allowed Haskins to jump him on the depth chart.
Burrow played sparingly as the third-string quarterback, completing 7-of-11 passes for 61 yards.
Sunday, Burrow’s father tweeted a picture following OSU commencement with the caption “On to the next challenge.”
That prompted speculation that Burrow would, indeed, transfer.
Proud of Joe . On to the next challenge . pic.twitter.com/FUyplQhbRF
— Jimmy Burrow (@CoachBurrow) May 6, 2018
His departure leaves the Buckeyes with only three scholarship quarterbacks.
Haskins, who will now almost certainly own the starting job, redshirt freshman Tate Martell, and true freshman Matthew Baldwin.
It is possible that OSU could bring in a graduate transfer quarterback of their own this summer to provide some depth.
Burrow’s departure means that OSU is now at 86 scholarship players, one above the NCAA-mandated limit. Walk-on receiver C.J. Saunders was recently put on scholarship, but that may or may not include the Fall/Winter semester.
After weeks of struggling with this decision, I have decided to leave Ohio State and explore other options. My teammates and coaches all know the love I feel for them. I will decide where I will play next year in the coming weeks.
— Joey Burrow (@Joe_Burrow10) May 8, 2018