Julian Sayin’s College Football Journey: From Alabama Signee to Ohio State’s Starting QB

Julian Sayin’s rise from curiosity-drawing high school prospect of Nick Saban's Alabama Crimson Tide to the Ohio State Buckeyes starting quarterback outlines a steady, calculated climb that began several years ago in Carlsbad, California.

The 6-2, 205-pound signal-caller first earned national attention after leading Carlsbad High School while throwing for 2,708 yards and 27 touchdowns as a junior in 2022.

Ranked the No. 2 quarterback in the 2024 class by On3, Sayin originally committed to Alabama in November 2022 and quickly became known for his touch, competitive edge and advanced mechanics.

The early enrollee arrived in Tuscaloosa in January 2024 after graduating high school a semester early to get a head start on college development, only for college football legend Nick Saban to retire shortly after he arrived.

Alabama Enrollee's Quick Pivot to Transfer Portal

Sayin entered the transfer portal almost immediately, drawing interest from a range of contenders before coach Ryan Day made clear Ohio State’s desire for him to join the program.

“I wanted to play for Coach (Nick) Saban, and when he retired, I decided to transfer. Ohio State was a big decision for me. I was excited to make it just because of the quarterback development history they’ve had with Coach [Ryan] Day. The guys like Justin Fields and C.J. Stroud, who came before, have done a great job with quarterbacks. And just the talent they have at the offensive skill positions. It was definitely a great decision for me, and I couldn’t be happier,” Sayin said to On3.

He committed to Ohio State less than a week after entering the portal and quickly threw himself into the quarterback competition, earning first-team reps by the time spring practices concluded. The spotlight falls on his shoulders now that he has beaten out Lincoln Kienholz to be the Buckeyes' starter.

Sayin Capitalizes On Portal Move To Join Storied Quarterback Pipeline

Ohio State won out over Georgia, USC and Texas in convincing Sayin to restart his career in Columbus. The Buckeyes had already cemented their status as a national quarterback factory.

Sayin’s ability to process quickly, operate in rhythm and throw with consistent precision made him a seamless schematic match for Kelly’s aggressive intermediate-based passing game. “He is very accurate, very competitive and has a presence about him we look for in our quarterbacks,” Day said.