From now until preseason camp starts on July 31, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about the players who will shine this season. Whether they are superstars, diamonds in the rough, or journeymen, these are the Buckeyes who will define the 2025-26 season. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content hereand all of our ”Player of the Year” articles here.
Sometimes the simplest answer is the correct answer.
A lot of Ohio State’s possible
success this season is dependent on how well the starting quarterback plays. I say starting quarterback, because Ryan Day has not yet named a starting quarterback, but it will very likely be sophomore Julian Sayin.
“I think it’s important for the locker room to believe in whoever that is,” Day said at Big Ten Media Days this week. “When the locker room believes in that guy, that’s the right time. ... So, we’ll see where this goes.”
Sayin came to Ohio State in 2024 after decommitting from Alabama following the retirement of Nick Saban. The 6-foot-1, 2005 pound quarterback from Carlsbad High School in California was the No. 20 overall recruit in the 2024 class, the No. 1 player in the state and the No. 3 quarterback, behind only DJ Lagway and former Buckeye commit Dylan Raiola.
Here is what Greg Biggins, the 247 Sports National Recruiting Analyst, had to say about Sayin:
“Sayin had a strong senior year and developed his game in multiple areas. Coming off an MVP performance at the Elite 11 Finals, his confidence was sky high and it showed in his play. Physically, he looked more developed and stronger in his upper body. He always had an advanced feel for the position with an extremely high football IQ. He’s an accurate passer, poised and understands timing and anticipation.”
Biggins added, “His physical tools in terms of his size and arm strength took a jump this year and he played with a lot more twitch in his game. His athleticism has always been an under-rated part of his game and this year, we saw him take off and run more and showed the ability to easily elude pass rushers and extend plays. He’s a heady player with a high football IQ and could be the most ‘ready to play early’ quarterback in this year’s class.”
He also compared him to former Michigan starter and current Minnesota Viking J.J. McCarthy.
Ryan Day had nothing but praise for Sayin at media days this week.
“Julian certainly gets the ball out quickly,” Day said. “He’s had a good offseason. He’s intelligent. He’s very competitive. He’s got good athleticism. He’s accurate.”
He also explained why the Buckeyes did not pursue a transfer quarterback in the portal for this season, like Will Howard last season.
“When we have to, or when we’re left in that situation, we will [bring in a transfer quarterback],” Day said. “But we want to develop guys, and these are three guys we want to continue to develop.”
Jeremiah Smith and Caleb Downs are the best players on the team, but for the Buckeyes to have a successful season and be a contender in the playoffs, they will need Sayin to be one of the better quarterbacks in the country.
With weapons like Smith, Carnell Tate, Brandon Inniss and Max Klare, it is a safe assumption that Sayin will feel comfortable in the Brian Hartline and Ryan Day system. It would not be surprising if he is among the leaders in the Heisman conversation late in the season.
More from landgrantholyland.com:
- Film Study: Get to know Ohio State’s next quarterback, Dwayne Haskins
- Where will Joe Burrow transfer?
- Ohio State players react to Joe Burrow’s plan to transfer
- Buck-I-Guy is history’s greatest monster and this latest stunt proves it
- Ohio State sends out offers again during the evaluation period
- Ohio State offers QB already committed to Big Ten foe
- In 2017, Ohio State’s Johnathan Hankins was a top NFL free agent; then why isn’t he signed yet in 2018?
