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Former Highly Touted Quarterback Pushing to be Ohio State's Starting QB

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Karl Ludwig | Last updated Apr 1, 2025 9:00 AM ET

It usually isn't hard to get a whole bunch of former five-star quarterbacks on campus at Ohio State, and that's certainly the case now as a few former four- and five-star recruits compete for the starting job.

Will Howard spent one season at Ohio State, raising his draft stock as he guided the Buckeyes to a College Football Playoff title, but the veteran will be replaced by a quarterback who has very little experience and a high pedigree.

The new starter likely will not be decided this spring, but Alabama transfer Julian Sayin - a former five-star recruit from Carlsbad, Calif. - was the leader in the clubhouse entering the spring.

According to a report by Spencer Holbrook of Letterman Row, Sayin is still the presumptive leader, despite a rocky practice over the weekend, but Lincoln Kienholz is pushing for the starting role.

Sayin committed to Alabama out of high school, but when long-time Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban retired before the season, Sayin hit the transfer portal and wound up at Ohio State.

Sayin arrived for spring practice last season and played in four games last season. He completed 5-of-12 pass attempts for 84 yards and a touchdown -- a 55-yard toss to wideout Christian Bennett against WMU.

Kienholz is entering his third season at Ohio State, arriving as a four-star recruit out of Pierre, S.D. He didn't record any stats last season, but he played in three games as a true freshman in 2022.

He was thrown into the fire against Missouri in the 2023 Cotton Bowl, completing 6-of-17 pass attempts for 86 yards.

Early enrollee five-star quarterback Tavien St. Clair is also in the mix at quarterback, working behind Sayin and Kienholz.

Whoever wins the starting job will have a plethora of weapons at his disposal, especially at wide receiver with superstar Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate and Brandon Inniss all returning.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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