COLUMBUS, Ohio — The last time Ohio State football landed a top-ranked quarterback prospect who somewhat abruptly showed up in the winter, he almost instantly rose to stardom.
Julian Sayin does not have the same clear runway in front of him. The Alabama transfer steps into a competition with another transfer, Will Howard, incumbent backups Devin Brown and Lincoln Kienholz and fellow five-star incoming freshman Air Noland.
Sayin also does not come in with the same year of SEC experience Fields brought from Georgia. One of our Subtext subscribers, though, wonders if the ceiling might be even higher for the California native.
Hey, Nathan: “Does this potentially rival Justin Fields for the biggest transfer in program history?” — Ryan from Cincinnati
Hey, Ryan: Yes, it certainly has that potential. Fields debuted as a Heisman Trophy finalist, resumed that trajectory in 2020 before things got weird, and played in two playoff semifinals and a national championship game.
He may forever stand up in program history as the best transfer because he set the standard so high. Consider the recent transfers who clearly belong a tier below:
• Jonah Jackson grad transferred in from Rutgers and became a path-paving guard for a robust 2019 rushing attack. He made first team All-Big Ten and became a dependable starter immediately for the Detroit Lions.
• Fields and the Buckeyes likely don’t make the 2020 championship game if Trey Sermon does not move in from Oklahoma. His insane 331-yard rushing performance against Northwestern overshadowed his follow-up — 254 yards and two touchdowns in the Sugar Bowl playoff semifinal against Clemson.
• You can throw guys like Tanner McCalister and Davison Igbinosun on this list, too. McCalister’s knowledge of Jim Knowles’ system at Oklahoma State made him invaluable as the coordinator’s first OSU defense came together. Igbinosun immediately brought a previously absent physical edge to the secondary from Ole Miss.
• Barring the unlikely event of another pandemic, he could have at least two full seasons as the starter. Fields played only eight 2020 games, including the playoff.
• Win a Heisman Trophy. Oh, is that all? Buckeye quarterbacks expect to make that trip to New York now, and the recent trend has transfers leaving with the award.
• Get that natty. Fields led OSU to the precipice, but that team could not hold up against Alabama’s juggernaut. The 12-team field makes the road tougher, but also helps ensure OSU will always stay in the national championship picture.
Sayin comes in with exceptional tools — accuracy, smarts, ability to freelance. He has the potential to dazzle while winning, which is the sort of combination that tends to make fan favorites.
Surpassing what Fields did will not be easy. Before Sayin can worry about any of that, though, he must actually be the Buckeyes’ starting quarterback. Air Noland, the guy in the same class who said yes to Ryan Day up front, may have something to say about that.
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