Ohio State faces one of the crucial vital quarterback competitions of the offseason after shedding nationwide champion Will Howard to commencement. Whereas former blue-chip Julian Sayin was the heavy favourite to win the job, coach Ryan Day claims the competition is much from over.
On Monday, Day famous that Sayin and Lincoln Kienholz are “just about neck and neck” within the quarterback competitors, based on Bucknuts 247. Kienholz is heading into his third 12 months with this system after becoming a member of as a developmental prospect in 2023 out of Pierre, South Dakota.
In accordance with experiences from camp, Kieholz seemed the half throughout this system’s first public scrimmage over the weekend. The redshirt sophomore has not recorded a stat since a disastrous displaying as a real freshman when thrust into motion towards Missouri within the Cotton Bowl, however he was by no means speculated to see the sphere that early. A 3-sport star who was named Nationwide Athlete of the 12 months by USA As we speak, he clearly has the expertise and athleticism to develop.
Regardless, Day’s phrases have to be taken with a grain of salt. Within the period of the switch portal, coaches don’t have any selection however to do something potential to maintain quarterback depth on campus.
Ohio State will probably be Julian Sayin’s workforce
Sayin is a really particular quarterback recruit who has the possibility to become Day’s first Day 1 quarterback since C.J. Stroud. The redshirt freshman was rated the No. 3 quarterback within the 2024 Top247 and transferred from Alabama to Ohio State proper after Nick Saban retired. Sayin received Elite 11 MVP and analysts raved about his soccer IQ as a highschool participant.
Largely pushed by Sayin’s emergence, Ohio State misplaced quarterbacks Air Noland (South Carolina) and Devin Brown (California) to the switch portal. Brown served as main backup to the veteran Howard final season, however Sayin appeared forward of each Kienholz and Noland because the third-stringer, at the same time as a real freshman enjoying on a nationwide championship workforce.
But when Sayin formally received the job and Kienholz entered the portal, it will imply the one quarterbacks on the roster are a redshirt freshman (Sayin) and freshman (Tavien St. Clair). And, by the way in which, this goes each instructions. If Kienholz received the quarterback job within the spring, it might push Sayin to the portal. A quarterback competitors extending to the autumn is significant to maintain three scholarship quarterbacks on campus.
Day ran this playbook to perfection final season; 5 quarterbacks have been nonetheless within the competitors heading into fall camp. All have been on campus by way of the nationwide championship run, giving the Buckeyes extra leeway on the place than anybody else within the nation. Notre Dame (CJ Carr vs. Steve Angeli) and Alabama (Ty Simpson vs. Austin Mack) rank amongst different applications that may profit from open quarterback competitions.
Paradoxically, examine that to the applications with among the finest returning quarterbacks within the sport. Penn State misplaced backup Beau Pribula to Missouri after Drew Allar returned. Georgia turning to Gunner Stockton the CFP price them Jaden Rashada.
It is by no means been tougher to take care of quarterback depth. Whether or not Ohio State’s quarterback battle stays aggressive, coaches don’t have any selection however to make it so.
