Columbus, Ohio – According to Colin Gay’s online article in the Columbus Dispatch on January 21, 2024, “Ohio State adds 2024 5-star quarterback Julian Sayin through transfer portal from Alabama,” Sayin becomes at least the fifth quarterback on the Buckeye roster. What the article fails to address, however, are guesses as to which among them will still be around after the next opening of the transfer portal following spring practice sessions. Check out the credentials among these potential Buckeye QBs:
- Sayin arrives as a former five-star QB who signed with Bama and left after Nick Saban’s retirement. Four-star Washington QB Austin Mack followed coach Kalen DeBoer to roll The Tide.
- Former Kansas State starting quarterback Will Howard already transferred to Columbus after the 2023 season. He only has one year of eligibility remaining.
- Redshirt sophomore Devin Brown has been waiting in the wings after Kyle McCord transferred and an injury removed him at the start of the Goodyear Cotton Bowl at the end of 2023.
- Redshirt freshman Lincoln Kienholz played quarterback in the Cotton Bowl to replace Brown in the loss to Missouri.
- Freshman Air Noland landed at Ohio State ranked as the No. 4 high school quarterback in the 2024 class per 247Sports’ composite rankings.
QB coach moving in; quarterback moving out.
Surely to attain such talent, on January 19, OSU Head Coach Ryan Day announced the hiring of former Alabama offensive coordinator and the former New England quarterback mentor of Tom Brady, Bill O’Brien. However, there’s a fine line when it comes to starting at quarterback at Ohio State. Last year’s starter, Kyle McCord threw for 3,776 yards, 24 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. The 30-24 loss to Michigan in the traditional, annual rivalry probably sealed McCord’s career in Columbus as they fell from College Football Playoff contention. On a potential scoring drive, McCord threw an interception with seconds left. With one year of eligibility remaining, he took the portal to Syracuse. Good luck to him.
All for one? One for all?
Lots of quarterback talent at Ohio State, but do any have the patience to sit the bench in 2024 if not beyond? With more NIL money than the national defense budget being thrown around and the transfer portal enticing players, especially quarterbacks, from among top Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) programs, does Ohio State figure all this talent will stick around? Who would wait for an injury or a transfer by the quarterback who stands atop the depth chart at the end of spring camp? No one! Commitment, loyalty and teamwork were written off by all members of the NCAA membership. There’s no more of giving “the old college try.” Ha! No such thing anymore. The new message is if you can’t start, feel free to play for someone else. And if things don’t work out the first time, go play somewhere else.
If your coach leaves, quit and follow him, if he’ll have you. Leave all the teammates behind who relied on you. Of course, they’re also planning on leaving to join this new wide-open world of free agency. Not that there’s any guarantee that another FBS program is interested. And does anybody care, even the NCAA, if the players get college educations anymore? Why should they? With all this NIL money, they’re probably all set for life doing television commercials, right? Hopefully, they make the big bucks quickly because there will certainly be some other fresh, pretty images entering the market right behind them. Without that old “sheepskin,” it’s unsure what the name, image or likeness will be worth without it.
Spring fling?
Look for the real quarterback bidding war to start after spring football camp breaks in Columbus, Ohio. Five QBs will eyeball the final depth chart. Figure three of them probably seek playing time elsewhere.
Steve Koreivo, ed. – Member of Football Writers Association of America
