Is Julian Sayin a senior? Exploring Ohio State QB's NCAA Eligibility

Julian Sayin is not a senior. According to the Ohio State Buckeyes website, Sayin will be a freshman ahead of the 2024 college football season.

Julian Sayin ought to have graduated from high school in 2024. He enrolled at the University of Alabama following a solid recruitment pitch from Coach Nick Saban. Sayin helped the team prepare for the Rose Bowl Game against the Michigan Wolverines and attended classes at Tuscaloosa in January 2024.

However, following Nick Saban's retirement, he entered the transfer portal and joined the Ohio State Buckeyes. According to Sports Illustrated, Sayin said about his reason for joining the Crimson Tide and eventually leaving for the Buckeyes:

"I came because of Coach Saban. We had a great relationship throughout the recruiting process. I love Coach Saban and wanted to play for him."

He continued:

"The new staff that came in, we didn't have a relationship before when I got there, so I just felt like it was the best decision for me to come out here."

"I think there's really good quarterback development at Ohio State. I wanted to come into this offense and be coached by him."

Sayin is entering his first season with the Buckeyes. He was a unanimous five-star prospect and one of the country's top quarterbacks in the 2024 recruiting class. He was listed as ESPN's highest-ranked dual-threat QB and the best-ranked player from the West Region and California.

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Will Julian Sayin start in 2024?

No, Jalin Sayin will not start in the initial stage of the 2024 college football season. According to Sports Illustrated, Ohio State Buckeyes coach Ryan Day has announced Will Howard as the starting quarterback to open the season. Day also ranked Devin Brown as the No. 2 passer on the depth chart.

However, the Buckeyes coach has left the door open for Sayin to take over as No. 2 during his freshman season. When asked about whether Sayin was in the race to be Howard's backup, the coach replied in the affirmative:

"Yeah, for sure."

The Buckeyes have a developmental plan to harness Sayin's potential and protect him from the pressures of being a key player early in his collegiate football career.

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What does Julian Sayin add to the Ohio State Buckeyes?

Julian Sayin adds much-needed quarterback depth to the Ohio State Buckeyes ahead of the 2024 college football season.

Sayin ended his high school career with 7,824 passing yards, 85 TDs and 10 picks. He shone at the high school level and will continue his development under the watchful guidance of the Ohio State coaching team.

Sayin will also add dual-threat ability to Ohio State's quarterback room. He has the modern NFL quarterback play style on lock. He can toss the rock if needed and elude pass rushers to gain important rushing yards. Sayin thrived during the 2024 spring football training with the Buckeyes.

The Ohio State Buckeyes are a collegiate football powerhouse, so it's unlikely that Julian Sayin will get many reps as a freshman. However, his developed skill set means he will only look in the right place if required to step up at any stage of his first year with the Buckeyes.