Rewinding the clocks back to mid-December, not even the most staunch of scarlet and gray supporters could have forecasted Julian Sayin would wind up in Columbus one month later.
Sayin, the top-rated quarterback in the 2024 recruiting class, only took one visit to Ohio State throughout his entire recruitment: a recruiting camp after his freshman season. Ryan Day didn’t even offer Sayin until January 2023, a month after the Buckeyes needed to expand their recruiting board following the decommitment of eventual Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola.
The California standout was already committed to Alabama at that point, and while Sayin enjoyed his relationship with Day, Ohio State’s attempts to flip him never really went anywhere. The Carlsbad product was dead set on playing for Nick Saban, period. Thus, Day and OSU pivoted to Air Noland as their top quarterback for the 2024 class.
Sayin arrived in Tuscaloosa in December and dove right in with bowl prep practices, becoming a part of Alabama’s scout team to help the Crimson Tide prep for Michigan. Following the Rose Bowl defeat, Alabama players were optimistic about next season with a strong core of players set to return for 2024.
Then, on Jan. 12, Sayin was thrown a curveball: Nick Saban, arguably the greatest coach in college football history and his main reason for playing for the Crimson Tide, was retiring. Sayin, along with the rest of his Alabama teammates, were shocked by the news.
Sayin spent the next seven days weighing his options, leaning on his family and support system for guidance. Alabama quickly hired Washington coach Kalen DeBoer to replace Saban, but Sayin had almost no prior relationship with him whatsoever.
One week following Saban’s retirement, Sayin entered the transfer portal. Classes were already starting at universities around the country, so he had to find a new home quickly. While in the portal, Sayin reflected on his strong bond with Day and knew Ohio State had a strong reputation as a program that develops quarterbacks. On OSU’s end, Sayin’s addition would make the quarterback room crowded, but his talent was too great to pass up. Two days after Sayin put his name in the portal, he was a Buckeye.
“When I entered the portal, I knew coach Day, we had a great relationship throughout the recruiting process,” Sayin told reporters Tuesday. “And then Bill O’Brien was actually the offensive coordinator here at the time and I had a strong relationship with him. I came here, and then coach Kelly came here and I had a good relationship with him too being from California and being recruited by UCLA.
“I definitely made the right decision coming up here. It came down to a lot of factors, but really I just wanted to be at a school with great tradition and great quarterback history and somewhere I can develop.”
Sayin didn’t take long to make an impression on Ohio State and dazzled in spring practice, becoming the second freshman to have his black stripe removed this spring behind only Jeremiah Smith. He’s carried that momentum over in fall camp thus far, taking some reps with the first-team offense in OSU’s first four practices.
“I feel like I’m just taking it one day at a time, just trying to take the meeting to the field like coach Day always tells me,” Sayin said. “Taking coaching points that coach Day and coach Kelly give me and also learning from older guys like Will and Devin. They’ve played a lot of football, so I’m just taking pointers from them. I’m trying to put it all out on the field.”
Chip Kelly said Tuesday not to read too much into which group each quarterback has practiced with so far, as he says he’s rotated all five of OSU’s scholarship quarterbacks in and out with different personnel. That said, rational minds wouldn’t blame anyone for getting excited about the potential Sayin can offer OSU both now and further down the line. Sayin has displayed tremendous arm talent and decisive decision-making at times during fall camp, though there are moments where the freshman learning curve remains apparent. Rookie mistakes aside, Kelly is bullish about Sayin’s future at OSU.
“Julian just stays in the moment,” Kelly said Tuesday. “That’s one thing I like about him. If he throws a bad ball, it doesn't bother him. If he throws a good ball, he doesn't get overexcited and say, ‘Hey, I just arrived.’ He's always thinking about the next snap, and he's done a really good job with it. And that's what we're trying to get with all these guys, is just stay present, just stay in the moment.”
Will Howard is still the clear favorite to be OSU’s starting quarterback, but it’s not out of the question that Sayin could beat out Devin Brown for the Buckeyes’ No. 2 spot on the depth chart assuming Howard wins the job outright.
“I just am trying to develop and take coaching points from coach Day and coach Kelly,” Sayin said of his focus for the season. “I want to develop and run the offense the way they want it and take their coaching points and put it into my game.”
“I definitely made the right decision coming up here. It came down to a lot of factors, but really I just wanted to be at a school with great tradition and great quarterback history and somewhere I can develop.”– Julian Sayin on transferring from Alabama to Ohio State
Sayin called Day a “great quarterback whisperer” on Tuesday and has focused his fall camp on applying what he’s learned from positional meetings to the field and continue to sharpen his decision-making. Day has also challenged Sayin to be more extroverted on the field.
“I’d say I’m a little more quiet but I’m working on the vocal side,” Sayin said. “Coach Day is trying to get me to be more of a vocal leader out there with the guys. Even though I’m only a freshman, I’m trying to be out there and be a leader for everyone.”
Sayin may not be counted on to start for Ohio State in his freshman season, but he’s confident he can perform in big moments when called on. With Day emphasizing depth more than he ever has before because of the expanded College Football Playoff, Sayin strives to be ready to step up as a true freshman if the Buckeyes need him to.
“I think I can be a really good decision-maker for the offense,” Sayin said. “Someone who the offensive coordinator can trust.”
