Carlsbad, Calif., five-star quarterback Julian Sayin (6-1, 195) – a former Alabama signee in the 2024 recruiting class who entered the transfer portal on Friday – announced Sunday that he is transferring to Ohio State to begin his college career.
Sayin was the fifth-ranked prospect and top-ranked quarterback in the class, and had initially signed with Alabama and enrolled in classes with the Crimson Tide, but he entered the transfer portal following the retirement of Nick Saban and subsequent hiring of former Washington head coach Karen DeBoer.
Ohio State, which had originally locked in on Buford, Ga., five-star quarterback Dylan Raiola (6-3, 230) under center in the 2024 recruiting class before his eventual recommitment, tried unsuccessfully to flip Sayin from Alabama after his commitment to the Crimson Tide on Nov. 2, 2022, offering him last January. But Sayin stayed firm in his pledge, and Ohio State eventually signed Fairburn (Ga.) Langston Hughes five-star quarterback Air Noland (6-2, 195).
In three years as a starter for Carlsbad, Sayin threw for 7,824 yards and 85 touchdowns to just 10 interceptions while competing 70.7 percent (502 of 710) of his passes. He also rushed for 548 yards and nine additional scores, leading to him being named the top quarterback in his class.
Sayin’s addition is likely to cause some upheaval in Ohio State’s quarterback room, which currently features former Kansas State quarterback Will Howard, returning quarterbacks Devin Brown and Lincoln Kienholz and Noland, who recently enrolled in classes was Ohio State.
Though Sayin is unlikely to be in the discussion to start this upcoming season – Howard is viewed as the likeliest option to be under center – he would firmly be in the competition for 2025 and beyond, which could cause other younger quarterbacks on the roster to reassess their options.
