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Jake Trotter
LAS VEGAS — Ohio State coach Ryan Day reiterated Tuesday that the Buckeyes did not add a switch portal quarterback this offseason as a result of they wish to develop the three gifted passers they have already got on campus.
Sophomore Julian Sayin is battling junior Lincoln Kienholz and true freshman Tavien St. Clair for the beginning job because the Buckeyes look to switch Will Howard. After transferring from Kansas State in January 2024, Howard quarterbacked Ohio State to its first nationwide championship in a decade in his lone season with the Buckeyes.
“When we’ve to, or once we’re left in that scenario, we’ll [bring in a transfer quarterback],” Day stated throughout Huge Ten media days. “However we wish to develop guys, and these are three guys we wish to proceed to develop.”
Sayin was the nation’s top-rated quarterback within the 2024 recruiting class. After initially signing with Alabama, the 6-foot-1, 203-pound Sayin transferred to Ohio State as soon as coach Nick Saban retired.
“Julian actually will get the ball out rapidly,” Day stated. “He is had an excellent offseason. He is clever. He is very aggressive. He is obtained good athleticism. He is correct.”
However the 6-3, 207-pound Kienholz pushed Sayin within the spring and can have a possibility within the preseason to win the job. Kienholz, solely the second participant to signal with the Buckeyes from the state of South Dakota, was a multisport star in highschool.
“Only a large athlete,” Day stated of Kienholz, who has been in this system for 3 years. “You decide a sport, he can do it. He is like a 4 handicap [in golf]. He can hit the [baseball] out of the park. He was a serious league baseball prospect. He can windmill dunk. He can do a number of issues.”
As a result of he arrived on campus solely earlier this 12 months, St. Clair stays behind within the competitors. However he was the nation’s No. 10 total recruit and the gem of Ohio State’s incoming recruiting class.
“He actually has the dimensions, the make-up,” Day stated of the 6-4, 225-pound St. Clair. “He is an incredible younger man. He is very clever. He is athletic. He can throw the ball. I feel he is obtained a very shiny future forward of him. …
“They’re all thrilling guys.”
Day declined to provide a timetable of when he may announce a starter forward of the Buckeyes’ blockbuster opener towards Texas on Aug. 30 — a rematch of final season’s playoff semifinal.
“I feel it is vital for the locker room to imagine in whoever that’s,” Day stated. “When the locker room believes in that man, that is the appropriate time. … So we’ll see the place this goes.”