How LSU Used Crawfish and Clever Tactics to Recruit Joe Burrow originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Former LSU coach Ed Orgeron shared the behind-the-scenes story of how LSU convinced Joe Burrow to transfer from Ohio State, revealing the unusual—and very Louisiana—recruiting tactics that helped seal the deal.
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Orgeron recalled that Burrow wasn’t yet the superstar he would become. “The guy we recruited couldn’t get the starting job at Ohio State,” Orgeron said. “He was a good football player, but maybe not the guy that ended up being everything.”
The tip came from Orgeron’s son at McNeese State, who suggested he check out Burrow. LSU assistant Bill Bush, who had coached at Ohio State, immediately recognized Burrow’s potential. “If we get Joe Burrow, we’re going to the College Football Playoffs,” Bush told Orgeron.
Burrow was initially leaning toward transferring to Cincinnati, where his coach and girlfriend were located. But Orgeron decided on a unique recruiting approach: Louisiana-style hospitality and personal connection.
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LSU head coach Ed Orgeron hugs quarterback Joe Burrow (9) after defeating Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Saturday November 9, 2019.© Mickey Welsh / USA TODAY NETWORK
Orgeron recalled the moment he first met Burrow in person. “I’ve never had a recruit, tell me this, but Joe gets here and I say, ‘Joe, come here,’” Orgeron said. Burrow’s response caught him off guard. “‘Coach, I don’t want to talk to you.’ I said, ‘What?’ He said, ‘Coach, I know you’re a great recruiter. I don’t want to hear all that bull. I want to eat crawfish and talk football.’”
“So we go to eat crawfish—you might have heard the story,” Orgeron said. When the planned restaurant had none available, Orgeron called a local crawfish vendor. “Boutros boiling crawfish down at the other restaurant. Bring 40 pounds of crawfish and put it on the platter for Joe. So he ate crawfish.”
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Afterward, Orgeron held a private meeting with Burrow. “I said, ‘Joe, if you tell anybody this, you’re lying. You’re going to be my starting quarterback—but you’ve got to earn it.’ I said, ‘By the way, I got two receivers, man: Jamar Chase and Justin Jefferson. You haven’t heard about them yet.’”
The next day, during breakfast with coaches, wives, and parents, the final decision still hung in the balance. Burrow said he wasn’t taking calls until Thursday. Orgeron said he wasn’t going to wait. He turned to Joe’s older brother, Dan, to act as a communicator and advocate for LSU.
“Dan talks a lot more than Joe,” Orgeron said. “I said, ‘You’ve got to be my voice now. LSU or Cincinnati?’ Dan gave me a little hesitation, and I said, ‘Forget that. Do you love your brother? Grab down there and see if you’ve got two. If you do, call your brother and tell him to get down here to LSU.’ He didn’t hesitate. I got him. I got him!” Orgeron described urging Dan to push Joe toward LSU. “Dan was our voice to call Joe.”
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The approach worked. “Out of the blue on Thursday, I got a call. Joe Burrow said, ‘Coach, I’m going to be at LSU tonight.’ How about that?”
Burrow’s transfer would become one of the most impactful in college football history, setting the stage for LSU’s national championship run and launching Burrow’s path to NFL stardom.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
