Rece Davis Names the Big Ten QB Who Is Following Joe Burrow’s Footsteps

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Matt De Lima | Last updated Jul 30, 2025 10:29 AM ET

Rece Davis sees a familiar arc in Columbus, and it runs straight through Lincoln Kienholz. On a recent segment, the ESPN host framed Ohio State’s 2025 quarterback battle through the lens of development, praising Kienholz’s size, strength, and running ability, then invoking Joe Burrow’s evolution from Ohio State backup to LSU superstar.

“I even heard someone say… they compared Kienholz to Joe Burrow,” Davis said during his "College GameDay" podcast, clarifying that the comparison was about trajectory, not talent ceiling.

That context matters as Kienholz duels Julian Sayin for QB1 in Ryan Day’s offense, a competition that remains open heading into camp.

Joe Burrow’s Ohio State origins and LSU explosion, the numbers framing the comparison

Burrow’s story is well documented. He redshirted at Ohio State in 2015 and backed up J. T. Barrett in 2016 and 2017, stuck behind a crowded depth chart before transferring to LSU in the spring of 2018.

One year later, he authored one of the best seasons in FBS history, completing 76.3 percent of his passes for 5,671 yards and 60 touchdowns, with 65 total scores, en route to the Heisman Trophy and a national title.

That jump, from solid reserve to record-setting senior, is the developmental runway Davis is pointing to when he discusses Kienholz’s late-blooming profile.

Ohio State’s 2025 QB battle, Day’s timeline, and where Kienholz fits

Day has been clear about the current state of play. “There’s times where I’ve gone into this part of the season feeling like I know or have a feeling on where it’s going. I don’t right now,” he said, adding that freshman Tavien St. Clair opens as the third quarterback while he develops.

St. Clair delivered 2,536 yards and 29 touchdowns at Bellefontaine last fall, but the immediate race centers on Kienholz and Sayin, the former Alabama five-star who transferred after Nick Saban’s retirement.

With Devin Brown moving to Cal in January, the room has been reduced to a two-man sprint that will be decided by on-field execution, timing, and consistency as camp reps scale under Mickey Marotti’s program.

Kienholz’s case is straightforward. He enters his third season with the Buckeyes, a plus athlete who has added functional strength and command in the offense. Sayin’s case is equally compelling, built on polished mechanics and high-level processing cultivated through years of elite 7-on-7 and camp reps.

Davis’s point is that paths can differ, and late development can ultimately prevail. If Kienholz sustains his spring momentum and marries it to efficient decision-making, the Burrow trajectory becomes less a comparison and more a template for how an older, ascending quarterback can seize a roster loaded with Big Ten title expectations.

Ohio State heads into August with live reps as the tiebreaker. Day’s staff will chart every throw, situational drill, and scrimmage snap, then set the depth for Week 1 once separation finally shows.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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