When it comes to college football, two names are currently dominating the scene: Jalen Hurts and Joe Burrow. Both quarterbacks have made a name for themselves in the NCAA, but which of the two reigns supreme? In this article, we’ll take a closer look at both players and their respective college careers to try and answer that question.
Jalen Hurts
Jalen Hurts was born on August 7, 1998, in Houston, Texas. He played high school football at Channelview High School in Channelview, Texas, where he was a highly sought-after recruit. In 2016, Hurts committed to the University of Alabama to play college football.
During his freshman year at Alabama, Hurts threw for 2,780 yards and 23 touchdowns. He also rushed for 954 yards and 13 touchdowns. In his sophomore year, Hurts threw for 2,081 yards and 17 touchdowns and rushed for 855 yards and eight touchdowns. However, in his junior year, Hurts lost his starting job to Tua Tagovailoa and transferred to the University of Oklahoma.
At Oklahoma, Hurts had a stellar senior year, throwing for 3,851 yards and 32 touchdowns and rushing for 1,298 yards and 20 touchdowns. He was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and earned first-team All-Big 12 honors.
Joe Burrow
Joe Burrow was born on December 10, 1996, in Ames, Iowa. He played high school football at Athens High School in The Plains, Ohio. In 2015, Burrow committed to Ohio State University to play college football.
During his time at Ohio State, Burrow was a backup quarterback behind J.T. Barrett and Dwayne Haskins. In 2018, Burrow transferred to Louisiana State University (LSU) to play for the LSU Tigers.
In his first year at LSU, Burrow threw for 2,894 yards and 16 touchdowns. However, it was his senior year that really put him on the map. Burrow threw for 5,671 yards and 60 touchdowns and led LSU to a National Championship. He won the Heisman Trophy and was named the AP Player of the Year, Sporting News Player of the Year, and Walter Camp Award winner.
Head-to-Head Comparison
So, how do Hurts and Burrow compare to each other?
First of all, it’s worth noting that Hurts and Burrow played in different conferences. Hurts played in the Big 12, while Burrow played in the SEC. This means that they faced different levels of competition.
That being said, both quarterbacks had impressive college careers. Hurts threw for a total of 9,477 yards and 80 touchdowns and rushed for 3,274 yards and 43 touchdowns. Burrow threw for a total of 8,565 yards and 76 touchdowns and rushed for 736 yards and 12 touchdowns. However, Burrow’s senior year was truly exceptional and set him apart from Hurts.
In terms of individual accolades, Burrow clearly comes out on top. He won the Heisman Trophy and several other awards, while Hurts only won the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year award. However, it’s worth noting that Hurts played for two different schools and had to adjust to different systems and coaching staffs, which may have impacted his performance.
Conclusion
So, who reigns supreme in the Jalen Hurts vs Joe Burrow college debate? It’s a tough question to answer definitively, as both players had impressive college careers and played in different conferences. However, it’s clear that Burrow’s senior year was one of the best in college football history and set him apart from Hurts in terms of individual accolades.
That being said, both Hurts and Burrow have bright futures ahead of them. Hurts was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, while Burrow was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals with the first overall pick. Only time will tell which of the two will go on to have a more successful professional career.