Julian Sayin has become an absolute unit. The Ohio State quarterback is looking monstrous at fall camp this week. It makes one trust his promise this offseason to become better at leaving the pocket and creating plays with his legs.
Sayin claimed that he was developing a clock that determines when he should leave the pocket back in April after spring practice.
"I think I'm very comfortable with just having that clock in my head, of knowing when the ball needs to get out or nothing's there, you've got to take off," Sayin said. "So I think I'm still improving that, but I think I'm very comfortable in that aspect of having that internal clock in my head and knowing when the clock is breaking down."
Sayin looks tougher to take down this season, which should help him gain yardage beyond the line of scrimmage more often. As On3's Ari Wasserman pointed out, he's clearly added a lot of size compared to last year when seen in person.
The kind of size Sayin has added may hint at an overall improvement in athleticism. At the very least, his mental edge will be sharper. He won't be worrying about getting hit as much. Hell, he may lower that shoulder and punish more than a few defenders in 2026.
Julian Sayin looking NFL ready at Ohio State's fall camp
Answering Ryan Day's challenge to get better at running should be convincing NFL front offices that Sayin is a bona fide NFL draft pick. Obviously, he needs to deliver on the field, but with Sayin looking more like a dual-threat, it's hard to picture that not manifesting.
Sayin was historically efficient for the Scarlet and Gray last year. He had a 77.0% completion percentage and threw four times as many touchdown passes (32) as he threw interceptions (eight). That in and of itself is an NFL resume when it comes from a Big Ten QB, doubly so from a Day QB.
If Sayin has added the only missing ingredient? Perhaps it's not inappropriate to start pondering about Sayin being an early first-round talent.
Julian Sayin needs to bring stability to Ohio State's run game
Fall camp has been a Cortisol producer in Central Ohio. Not only has Bo Jackson been taking second-team reps, but Legend Bey can't seem to stop getting in trouble after being suspended for the first few days of practice.
Sayin can provide some much-needed stability in the absence of a stable RB room. It's not like he'll be an RPO hound and carry the offense singlehandedly. Still, Sayin could provide the RBs and the offense as a whole a few more breaks by squeezing past the first-down marker with his legs.
Isaiah West may be able to handle the load as RB1, with Florida transfer Ja'Kobi Jackson surprising some as well. Perhaps the RB room's downfall is just a Maize and Blue fantasy. Either way, Sayin can seriously help the cause by showing he can be a force in the running game.
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