The Julian Sayin Hype Continues To Build

INDIANAPOLIS — The Ohio State football team is searching for a new starting quarterback this season. With Will Howard off to the NFL after one season in Columbus, most eyes now fall on redshirt freshman Julian Sayin.

Sayin will be part of a three-man competition this spring with redshirt sophomore Lincoln Kienholz and true freshman Tavien St. Clair. The competition could also stretch into fall camp as well.

To hear some of Sayin’s former teammates tell it at the NFL Combine this week, however, Kienholz and St. Clair are going to have an uphill battle to take the job from Sayin.

Cornerback Denzel Burke got the party started on Thursday when he was asked about Sayin.

“I think Julian is that guy, to be honest with you, and Lincoln is pretty good too,” he said. “I’m ready to see this little matchup they’re gonna have. Julian is a great player. Great zip on the ball. Great pocket presence. He’s gonna have a good career.”

Burke’s comments garnered quite a bit of attention. Not because he said something controversial but because he doesn’t tend to gas somebody up who doesn’t deserve it.

Sayin came to Ohio State as a former five-star prospect and the top quarterback in his recruiting class, so the expectations will always be high, but the reality is that Burke and his teammates have seen much more from the young QB than just his four games played and five completions in 12 pass attempts.

“I said the same thing. Julian’s that guy,” said receiver Emeka Egbuka on Friday when he was made aware of Burke’s comments.

Egbuka then mentioned the similarities between Julian Sayin and Ohio State Freshman All-American wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, who was named the Big Ten’s Wide Receiver of the Year last year.

“I think that I’ve been around a lot of talented freshmen, Jeremiah included, and Julian definitely falls into that same category,” he said. “His arm talent is something that I’ve never really personally experienced at such a young age. I think he has a really bright future. I’m excited to see how he develops, how he learns, how he grows stronger in the weight room. All that comes with it. Stepping on the field in college for the first time is definitely not something that’s easy, but I think he’s ready for the job.”

From early on last spring, the Ohio State coaches were all giving positive reviews for Sayin, and they never stopped. His maturity and ability to handle the playbook as such a young player was not lost on his coaches. He knew where to go with the football and how to get it there. And he’d get it there accurately.

“Julian’s one of the most accurate quarterbacks I’ve been around,” Will Howard said on Friday. The ball just looks so pretty coming out of his hand. Like, it spins prettier than I’ve seen a lot of balls come out of quarterbacks’ hands. He’s got a real chance to be elite, man. I’m excited for him.”

There seems to be no concern about the skill set. Every kind of thing a quarterback must do with a football, Sayin can apparently handle. The leadership aspect of the position, however, is an area that needs work. As a true freshman last year, Sayin didn’t need to say much. As the Buckeyes’ possible starting quarterback this year, however, he will need to be both seen and heard.

Everybody in the Ohio State football facility will tell you that Julian Sayin was a quiet true freshman. They will also now tell you that he’s no longer that same first-year guy. Which is very good news for the 2025 Buckeyes.

“He definitely is stepping into that leadership position,” Howard said. “I’m excited for him to take on that new role. He was a little soft-spoken at first. But now this is his sophomore year. I’m excited for him to take that step and really be that leader for the team. The talent is there, man. He’s put on some weight. He’s done good things. I’m just excited for him.”

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