Will Howard battled through adversity last season to lead the Ohio State Buckeyes to the College Football Playoff and ultimately securing a national championship. All good things must come to an end as Howard heads to the NFL draft.
One of the most important tasks for head coach Ryan Day and the coaching staff this offseason is to find his successor. The competition remains ongoing, but Julian Sayin has been perceived as the early favorite.
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Ohio State added the former five-star recruit and Alabama quarterback from the transfer portal before the 2024 season, adding a potential quarterback of the future. Sayin appears to be in the pole position to enter the 2025 season as the starter at the midway point of spring ball.
Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day watches during spring football practice at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center in Columbus on March 19, 2025. Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Spencer Holbrook of Lettermen Row noted in a recent offensive depth chart projection that Sayin currently has the edge over fellow quarterbacks Lincoln Kienholz and Tavien St. Clair.
“Sayin still leads the Ohio State quarterback battle, while Kienholz looks better than he has in past spring practice periods,” Holbrook wrote on March 29. “That battle will be one we’re watching closely as the spring hits its half-way point.”
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This projection comes as Sayin has had mixed reviews during recent spring practices. Lettermen Row reported that Sayin had an underwhelming performance during a March 29 practice.
Sayin – a 6-foot-1, 203-pound quarterback from Carlsbad, Calif. – was one of the top recruits in the class of 2024, earning consensus five-star status. The quarterback initially committed to Alabama over offers from other top college football programs.
Sayin left Alabama after former head coach Nick Saban retired and arrived in time for the Buckeyes spring ball practice as a true freshman last season.
In four appearances last season, Sayin completed 5-of-12 pass attempts for 84 yards and a touchdown – including a 55-yard touchdown toss to Bennett Christian against Western Michigan.
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Sayin was prolific at Carlsbad High, throwing for 7,824 passing yards with 85 touchdowns and just 10 interceptions.
If Sayin does eventually win the starting job, he will benefit from a wide receiving corps that features superstar sophomore Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate, Brandon Inniss and Bryson Rodgers.
