As Yogi Berra might say, Illinois coach Bret Bielema predicted the future in the past. And paid for it in the present.
A year ago, after Ohio State defeated the Illini on the road, Bielema said something along the lines of this: As good as Ohio State’s offense is, imagine how much more dangerous it will be when quarterback Julian Sayin begins using his legs as well as his arm.
Except the additional danger never materialized. Until now. To the Illini’s dismay, as well as Big Ten’s defensive coordinators, Sayin has become a threat to not just pass but also run for first downs and touchdowns. The junior scrambled for a 7-yard touchdown, picked up a critical first down on third-and-7 and secured first downs on three QB sneaks in OSU’s 42-19 win Sept.
26 in the Horseshoe.
Bielema was prescient. It just took awhile for his prediction to play out.
“I always say this, the most dangerous quarterbacks are the ones who can create plays with their legs,” Bielema said after watching his team get carved up by Sayin and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, whose 12 catches for 217 yards were career highs. “Nobody ever has a really successful quarterback who’s like a third-string running back, but when they can stay alive and create plays with their legs, that’s a really big deal.”
Here, here. I have opined ad nauseum for Ohio State coach Ryan Day to insist that his quarterbacks rely more on their legs in the most critical games. At the risk of beating a dead horse even deader – the truth is that it’s difficult, if not impossible, to win national titles with a QB who sets up camp in the pocket. Fernando Mendoza, Will Howard, Joe Burrow, Trevor Lawrence, Vince Young … go back as far as you want. If your quarterback can’t escape trouble and scramble for first downs and touchdowns, well, fuggetaboutit.
That doesn’t mean a team with a running quarterback will win a national championship, but it becomes more challenging to win one without such a player.
Ryan Day knows quarterbacks must run to win titles
Day understands this, even if his preference is to limit his quarterbacks to picking their spots only when absolutely necessary. It is why, after last week’s blowout win against Kent State, he challenged Sayin to make more plays with his feet.
“We challenged Julian this past week and he responded,” Day said. “The scramble there to get the first down was big, to keep the play alive, and the touchdown was as big as well, and you could see the reaction from the sideline and the offense, and that’s the X factor. And he has it. The quickness to do that and I thought he competed well today.”
A Ted Talk on quickness. Quick and fast are no more the same as big and strong. A 747 is fast. A hummingbird is quick. Sayin is not exceedingly fast, but according to Day he is quick. Or at least quick enough.
“He does have sneaky legs,” Bielema confirmed. “Like he stays alive and throws it. Obviously, the scramble for the touchdown, that was a critical play down there. If we just keep him in the pocket, then you can kind of dictate the throws, where they’re going. He got around the edge … yeah, he’s a dangerous quarterback.”
About time, right?
Julian Sayin shows impressive running chops in practice
The confusing part is that Sayin often shows off his running skills during practice, according to OSU offensive lineman Luke Montgomery, who described his QB as “Money Manziel Julian,” a reference to former Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel, who won the 2012 Heisman for his legwork as much as for his passing.
“He does it all the time in practice,” Montgomery said. “If something is not there he’s not afraid to just bolt and go.”
Sayin bolted most impressively on an 8-yard scramble on third-and-7 in the second quarter, breaking a tackle that kept alive a 19-play, 96-yard scoring drive that made it 21-7. Then there was the 7-yard TD run that made it 28-10 with 15 seconds left in the half. Sayin scanned the right side of the field, saw no one open and took off, angling toward the corner of the end zone and diving past the pylon to just beat Illinois defender Darrell Prater.
“That’s the most excited I’ve been this season for a touchdown,” Montgomery said. “For a guy to put his body on the line like that, for a quarterback, it’s the most respect. He didn’t have to do that. Defenses are going to have to start game planning against “Money Manziel Julian,” because he’s out here shifty and scoring touchdowns and diving for them.”
Sayin, who also had an excellent day throwing the ball (27 of 36 for 367 yards and four touchdowns) credited Day with coaching him up after Kent State.
“Last week there were opportunities to extend the play and get us conversions on third down and in the red zone,” Sayin said. “So we were talking about that. (Day) coaches the quarterbacks hard, and we wouldn’t want it any other way.”
Bielema would prefer another way, i.e. not being so spot-on with his 2025 prediction. It took a year, but “Crazy Legs” Sayin made the Illini pay.
Sports columnist Rob Oller can be reached at roller@dispatch.com and on X.com at @rollerCD.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State's Julian Sayin demonstrates trait Ohio State football needs to win national title
