Well, Ohio State Buckeyes HC Ryan Day has turned into an ‘observer’ mode. Their former QB Will Howard has taken the flight to land in the NFL. Now it comes to the trio to take up the QB1 spot. Third-year Lincoln Kienholz, second-year Julian Sayin, or first-year Tavien St. Clair. While Kienholz’s chances seem to be low, Day has no idea whom to choose between the other two. 

However there’s one thing we all know: Whoever gets to hold the spot needs to be a leader. But fans, being fans, this waiting game is getting too much. So here comes some big update on who is likely to win the QB battle in the Sayin vs. St. Clair debate. Whoever it is, turns out to be a shadow of Aaron Rodgers. 

Insider’s bold prediction for Julian Sayin

Coach Day is more into a no feeling is final kinda mindset. He once stated, “It’ll be a fierce competition. Lincoln [Kienholz] and Julian, and then Tavien [St. Clair]. We’re excited to see those guys compete.” However, the time has for Day to do the honors by declaring their QB1 for the 2024 season. But before Day, Ohio State insider Nevadabuck shares his clear stance on who is it going to be between Sayin and St. Clair. To the analyst, Sayin is going to share the last laugh in the QB race. On March 14, the Ohio State Football at Buckeye Scoop podcast dropped the bomb. 

“I’m going to go with that Julian Sayin answers our quarterback questions by the end of the spring football… we don’t have high anxiety about the quarterback position heading into 2025.” The insider believes that Sayin has worked on himself to get the position. “He established himself as the clear number one.” Being a freshman this past season, Sayin racked up a 41.7% completion rate. Nevadabuck says, “He’s a little different…but you know he can throw the ball. The ball just comes out of his hand really effortlessly and moves around well in the pocket. Opportunistic runner. Really smart kid, maybe the smartest quarterback that we’ve ever had.”

The 19-year-old QB has already generated enough Heisman Trophy buzz. Now it has to be. After all, Sayin has been named the MVP of the 2023 Elite 11. He also finished his high school chapter at Carlsbad High School with 7,824 yards passing, 85 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. While there has been enough hype about 5’ 10” Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel, Nevadabuck believes, Sayin is going to be a more dominant force than Gabriel standing at 6’1.” Now here comes the bigger part of the Sayin hype.  

Aaron Rodgers’ comparison for Julian Sayin heating up

Nevadabuck came with a big compliment for Sayin. “He’s an Aaron Rogers type of scrambler where if it’s there he’ll take off and and go with an average over six and a half yards a carry in high school. So this is a guy that can run the football.” On March 12, 2025, NFL rookie Watch tweeted a clip of Sayin’s practice. Going by the caption, “Julian Sayin has one of the PRETTIEST releases college football has ever seen.” 

Even though the QB is yet to seal his spot in Columbus, his name is already reverberating loudly in the NFL. Many NFL scouts live by the belief that he could end up being the most successful QB from the 2024 class (which included Dylan Raiola and DJ Lagway). Not just this, another analyst Alex Bryan, co-host of THE Buckeye Bro Show also re-shared the NFL Rookie Watch’s post.

The caption read, “Dare I say, Aaron Rodgers esque.” The 2024 season did not see much of Julian Sayin’s actions. He had attempted only 12 passes with the Buckeyes — five completions for 84 yards and a touchdown. However, from the sidelines, he did gather some important lessons seeing some like Will Howard on the gridiron. Walking into the 2025 season, Sayin will be walking into a QB room with rich talents like Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate who are returning to Ryan Day’s squad. With a little luck and a lot of talent, Julian Sayin might just land the QB1 role at Ohio State.