2024 Freshman Class Report: Quarterback Julian Sayin

This is the 11th installment in a series where Buckeye Huddle looks back on each member of Ohio State’s 2024 signing class and the impact they had in their first season, as well as the impact they could have during the upcoming 2025 season. Up next is quarterback Julian Sayin.

Julian Sayin transferred to Ohio State from Alabama shortly after Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban announced his retirement in January of 2024. Originally from Carlsbad, California, Sayin was the No. 1 quarterback in the 2024 recruiting cycle per the 247Sports Composite and the No. 6 player overall.

As a senior at Carlsbad High School, Sayin threw for 2,347 yards with 24 touchdowns and one interception. He threw for over 2,700 yards as both a sophomore and junior. He finished his high school career with 85 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions. Sayin earned Elite 11 MVP honors prior to his senior season.

2024 Season

Julian Sayin enrolled at Alabama last January, then transferred to Ohio State in late January. He was one of five scholarship quarterbacks on the roster for the Buckeyes. He eventually won the job as the third-team quarterback and played in four games, completing 5-of-12 passes for 84 yards and a touchdown.

Sayin’s biggest play of the year came against Western Michigan, which was OSU’s second game last year but the first game in which he played. Sayin connected with tight end Bennett Christian on a 55-yard catch-and-run touchdown.

So Now What For Julian Sayin?

The five scholarship quarterbacks that were on campus last season are now down to two. Julian Sayin and redshirt sophomore Lincoln Kienholz will begin their on-field competition this spring to be the Buckeyes’ starting quarterback this year. Together they have thrown a total of 34 career passes. Kienholz did not throw a pass last season. They will be joined by five-star true freshman Tavien St. Clair.

Over the past year, Sayin’s coaches have talked glowingly about how well he picked up the offense and understood where to go with the football, as well as his ability to get it there. Expectations are understandably high for the former five-star recruit, and while Sayin is the favorite to win the job, he doesn’t yet have the kind of experience that makes him impossible to unseat.

If he does win the job, he will have a talented group of receivers with which to work. Past second-year starting quarterbacks have been pretty good at Ohio State. Perhaps Julian Sayin can join the likes of CJ Stroud, Justin Fields, JT Barrett, and Rex Kern.