Five-star quarterback Julian Sayin’s decision to leave Alabama and commit to Ohio State was one of the most consequential on the active 2024 transfer market.
Looking back on his decision, Sayin cited the reason most people expected for his move from the Crimson Tide to the Buckeyes: the historic resignation of head coach Nick Saban.
“I came because of Coach Saban,” Sayin said. “We had a great relationship throughout the recruiting process. I love Coach Saban and really wanted to play for him.”
“I had no relationship with the new employees who were coming in before I got there, so I just felt like it was the best decision for me to come here.”
But it wasn’t just Saban’s retirement that prompted Sayin to leave Alabama. It was also the presence of head coach Ryan Day and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly at Ohio State.
“I felt like there was some really good quarterback development going on here,” he said. “Coach Day is a great quarterback whisperer. The quarterbacks they’ve had over the last five years have really put up great numbers and just done things the right way.”
“I wanted to get into that offense and be coached by him, be coached by Coach Kelly, make adjustments to the line, things like that,” he added.
Sayin’s departure was a major loss for Alabama in the midst of Kalen DeBoer’s first offseason as head coach.
The former five-star prospect was considered the second-best quarterback in the 2024 recruiting cycle, according to an average of the four national recruiting services.
Sayin is expected to play as a backup behind projected starter Will Howard, the veteran former Kansas State signal caller who joined the Buckeyes in the offseason.
After that, however, Sayin is expected to compete with new five-star freshman Air Noland for the starting quarterback position at Ohio State University for the 2025 season.
Related: Air Noland decides Ohio State’s future amid transfer rumors
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