Julian Sayin Taking It ‘One Day At A Time’ As Quarterback Competition Looms

The 2025 Ohio State Buckeyes are going to look much differently than the 2024 edition. Along with new coaches, there are going to be plenty of new starters, including at the quarterback position.

With Will Howard off to the NFL and backup quarterback Devin Brown off to Cal via the transfer portal, the Buckeyes will begin spring camp with just three scholarship quarterbacks. Those three quarterbacks — redshirt freshman Julian Sayin, redshirt sophomore Lincoln Kienholz, and true freshman Tavien St. Clair — have combined to throw 34 career passes in college.

Sayin finished his true freshman season as the Buckeyes’ No. 3 quarterback, which could put him at the head of the line as the competition to start in 2025 begins. He completed 5-of-12 passes for 84 yards and a touchdown in his limited opportunities this past season.

Speaking about his experience, he credited head coach Ryan Day and now-departed offensive coordinator Chip Kelly for helping him pick up the offense as quickly as he did.

“Yeah, I think I’ve grown a lot in just understanding more about the game and seeing the game in a different way,” he told Buckeye Huddle prior to the Rose Bowl. “Big thanks to Coach Day and Coach Kelly with that, but they’re helping me kind of understand the game.”

The process for a freshman is not an easy one, but Julian Sayin received rave reviews throughout the year for his grasp of the offense and his quick decision making.

Along with crediting his coaches, Sayin also credited the defense he was facing every day in practice.

“I think it’s really good getting these practice reps against our defense,” he said. “We obviously have the best defense in the country, so I think it’s good to play against that. It presents some challenges. It’s fun just competing against them every day.”

Up next for the Buckeyes are winter workouts. They may be a bit different this year with the season just ending two weeks ago, but Sayin has some plans in place.

“I definitely want to get with Coach Mick in the weight room and just continue to see myself grow,” he said. “I think I put on 20 pounds when I first got here, but I think I’ll try to put on at least 10 pounds in the offseason.”

Julian Sayin spent his freshman season as the Buckeyes’ No. 3 quarterback, which meant there wasn’t much pressure on him to be game-ready. That didn’t keep him from working and learning as much as he could. It also didn’t change his approach in the postseason after Devin Brown announced that he would be transferring after the season.

He just kept doing what he was doing, which is exactly what Chip Kelly wanted to see from him.

“I want Julian to be the same person he is every day,” Kelly told Buckeye Huddle. “Whether somebody decides he’s doing something, that shouldn’t affect Julian’s approach to things. And that’s what makes Julian great. Julian just wants to get better every day, so he’s not concerned with what anybody else is doing, whether it’s Devin or Lincoln or Will. It’s just, how does Julian get better from Tuesday to Wednesday? So there hasn’t been, between him and Lincoln or Will or anybody, they’re happy for Devin in terms of what Devin wants to do, but he hasn’t changed his approach.”

Kelly is now off to the NFL, which means the Buckeyes’ next quarterbacks coach is yet to be hired.

In typical Julian Sayin fashion, however, he’ll just keep doing what he’s doing, and when the quarterback competition finally gets underway, he’ll be ready with his best foot forward.

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