LSU Quarterback Joe Burrow Taken No. 1 Overall by Cincinnati Bengals

We've known it was coming for the better part of four months but on Thursday night the Cincinnati Bengals made it official, selecting LSU quarterback Joe Burrow with the first pick in the 2020 draft.

Burrow joins Cam Newton as the only players in college football history to win the Heisman trophy, a national championship and go No. 1 overall in the same season. It was a possibility that even over the weekend, Burrow was having a tough time grasping, telling Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer he never envisioned raising his draft stock

“I knew that I was gonna play really well my senior year. And I was going into it thinking I was one of the best guys in the country. But I know what recruiting is, and I know how the draft is," Burrow said. "It’s always interesting seeing where people go and seeing who ends up panning out. So I knew I had a chance to be a really good pro. But I didn’t think I could do anything to get myself up to the No. 1 pick in the draft."

Well after arguably the greatest college football season ever that saw Burrow win a Heisman and national championship trophy, throw for 5,671 yards, 60 touchdowns and complete 76.3% of his passes, it was only a matter of waiting until Thursday night to make it official.

Burrow appeared on ESPN after the selection and was asked if someone had told him in 2018 that he'd be the No. 1 pick in 2020, what would he have said.

"I would've told you that you were crazy," Burrow said. "I knew I was going to have a really good season because I knew the kind of players we had coming back. To jump up to No. 1 overall is a dream come true."

Hold That Tiger@Joe_Burrow10 is the No. 1 Overall Pick#NFLDraft | #GeauxTigers pic.twitter.com/f4uVK3jGyq
— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) April 24, 2020

Sporting a "740" long sleeve shirt, Burrow told ESPN the numbers are the area code of his hometown of Athens, Ohio.

"I wanted to represent my home area, my hometown and Nike made this for me and I just want to show as much appreciation to this area as I can," Burrow said.

Enough talk. Time to get to work. https://t.co/EAK97ZePE8
— Joey Burrow (@JoeyB) April 24, 2020

ESPN analyst Mel Kiper called Burrow's transformation from his junior to senior year one of the most remarkable turnarounds he's ever seen.

"Joe Burrow, his poise, his confidence, the way he manipulates the pocket, he just has that 'It' factor. He has tremendous awareness. He slips, he dips, stays away from trouble then makes those accurate strikes down the field. Joe Burrow put together the best season I can ever remember a college quarterback having.

"I think his improvement was not only dramatic, it was historic and I don't think we'll ever see it again."