The future Ohio State starting quarterback: Julian Sayin

With the news that Devin Brown will transfer at the end of the season, it is now apparent that Julian Sayin is the next starting quarterback for Ohio State next season. Julian Sayin is from Carlsbad, California where he was a five-star quarterback in the 2024 class.

After signing with Alabama and early enrolling in Alabama in December of 2023 he transferred to Ohio State because of the retirement of Nick Saban. It was a unique situation, but Ohio State was willing to take him even though they signed quarterback four-star Air Noland in the same class.

High School film

I went back and looked at his high school film to get a better idea about how talented he is as a player, and I came away impressed with his ability to throw the ball. As you expect from a five-star prospect, he has a big arm and is extremely accurate in throwing the football.

His ability to read the defense and deliver a good football is also impressive. The part of his game that I enjoyed watching was his ability when the play breaks down. He does a nice job of keeping his head up and looking downfield for an open receiver. Sayin has all the traits of an elite quarterback.

Turning Heads

When Sayin enrolled in January, he joined a crowded quarterback room led by current Ohio State starter Will Howard and last year's backup Devin Brown. Early in the process, during spring practice, he was already turning heads with how well he looked.

For a Freshman quarterback who just should have still been in High School, it was an impressive showing last spring. Then this continued in the fall when observers of Ohio State thought he had the best arm talent out of all the quarterbacks on the roster. From early enrollment until now, he has emerged, and most people think he has the talent to be a good Ohio State quarterback.

Next Steps

With Devin Brown's transfer and the development of Sayin this year, he looks like he is the starter for the 2025 season. Two questions: first, does anyone else transfer from the Ohio State quarterback room? Behind Sayin is Lincoln Kienholz and Air Noland. One or both could transfer out.

The second question is does Ohio State go into the portal for a quarterback? I would most likely say yes because they might want a veteran backup quarterback who could play if Sayin got hurt. This could be an option in the spring as well when the second portal window opens.

Final Thoughts

I think Julian Sayin has probably the best arm talent a quarterback has had at Ohio State since C.J. Stroud. The potential he has as a quarterback is real. He also has a chance to be a special quarterback at Ohio State. Now, Ohio State needs to support him, and going into the portal and signing multiple offensive lineman starters would go a long way in helping him be successful.

Everyone knows that Ohio State has some of the best wide receivers in the country, and that will continue with Jeremiah Smith and the rest of the returning receivers, but they need to improve the offensive line. Finally, all Ohio State needs to look at is Tennessee, their first-round opponent.

Nico Iamaleava sat last year and then finally got this year to start. He has been good most of the year, but he also has struggled at times. I would expect the same next year from Julian Sayin, but he has the talent to overcome it and be a successful quarterback at Ohio State.