Former LSU Tigers head coach Ed Orgeron believes Joe Burrow has already found an equal, six years after engineering one of the greatest all-time college football seasons from an individual player.
Orgeron said Texas Longhorns QB1 Arch Manning is on Burrow’s level, despite having started two games in his career. At the same time, Orgeron denied that current Tigers starter Garrett Nussmeier is also on that level.
“I had an opportunity to go to Texas and speak at their clinic. And I watched practice. Now, we knew Arch Manning as a young kid from Louisiana. He liked Joe Brady. We watched him (as a recruit). But I watched his practice [at Texas]. And I'll say this conservatively -- and we recruited [current LSU quarterback] Garrett [Nussmeier] -- Garrett's a great player. ... but Arch is as close to -- or maybe as good as -- Joe [Burrow] as I've seen. And I've never said that about anybody,” Orgeron said on the newest episode of “Pardon My Take.”
Orgeron and LSU didn’t end on good terms, so it’s not exactly shocking for him not to tow the company line. The Larose, Louisiana, native reportedly brought his love interests to practice during his 2021 swan song season.
What he’s saying isn’t necessarily wrong, but it’s definitely not comments that read like someone who bleeds purple and gold.
Manning is apparently that good, where one would break their allegiance and downplay the personal significance someone like Burrow can have on someone like Oregeron.
Orgeron announced in the same interview that he is reportedly interested in returning to coaching college football.
“Yeah, I think it's time (to return). I'm feeling it a little bit. I haven't made my decision totally, but I've got my boys settled coaching football now. It's been four years since I've been out and I'm getting the itch again,” Oregeron said.
He likely knows better than to think he can usurp Steve Sarkisian in Austin. The Manning comments don’t read as a man hoping to coach the most expensive player in college sports.
They are tough to read for Tiger fans who thought 2019/2020 was irreplaceable.