The night Ohio State reclaimed college football glory, a freshman quarterback warmed up on the sidelines, effortlessly launching pinpoint passes his name: Julian Sayin.
Standing at 6-foot-1, Sayin might not have the imposing frame of Ohio State’s past quarterbacks, but his precision, poise, and natural command of the game are already turning heads. Ranked as the No. 3 quarterback in the 2024 class, Sayin’s journey to Columbus was anything but predictable.
Originally committed to Alabama, Sayin had his heart set on playing for Nick Saban, embracing the challenge of competing at the highest level. But on his first day of classes in Tuscaloosa, everything changed Saban shocked the world by announcing his retirement. Suddenly, the future Sayin envisioned was no longer certain.
After a brief and underwhelming introduction to Alabama’s new coaching staff, Sayin entered the transfer portal. He landed at Ohio State, drawn by head coach Ryan Day and offensive coordinator Bill O Brien”only for Brien to leave a month later. But even amidst the whirlwind, Sayin found stability under Chip Kelly, who had long admired his talent.
Now, with star receivers Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate returning, Sayin is poised to lead the Buckeyes high-powered offense. His teammates rave about his accuracy, confidence, and ability to command the field.
The road to Columbus may have been unexpected, but Sayin is exactly where he needs to be ready to carry Ohio State championship momentum into a new era.
