Buckeye fans are happy with Julian Sayin being named Ohio State’s starting quarterback

Throughout the year, we will be asking and answering questions about various Ohio State teams, the players, and anything else on our collective minds of varying degrees of importance. If you have a question that you would like to ask, you can tweet us @LandGrant33 or if you need more than 280 characters, send an email HERE.

Last week, Ohio State head football coach Ryan Day announced that sophomore Julina Sayin would be the Buckeyes’ starting quarterback for the season-opening game against Texas. While the quarterback competition between Sayin and Lincoln Kienholz didn’t come with the same types of fireworks or intrigue that some others in recent memory have, it did sound like it was a legitimately close battle for quite a while.

So, now that we know the outcome of that battle, earlier this week, we asked Buckeye Nation to weigh in on the result, as well as the selection of OSU’s four captains for the football season.

You can check out the results of the survey questions below, and then, should feel compelled by the spirit, add your thoughts on what your fellow fans thought by weighing in in the comments at the bottom of the page.

Question 1: Now that Julian Sayin has been named Ohio State’s starting quarterback, how do you feel about it?

To me, it’s really difficult to get a read on the quarterback competition because we don’t really know much about either Sayin or Kienholz. Both have played only sparingly during their tenures in Columbus, and even though both were highly touted coming out of high school (more so Sayin than Kienholz), we don’t really have a clear picture as to how they have fully acclimated to being college quarterbacks.

Nonetheless, Sayin is officially Ohio State’s quarterback, and people seemed pleased by that. I mean, that was what most people expected to be the case throughout the entire process, so people might just like that they were right. But, given his recruiting pedigree and reports of how well he throws the ball, I think there is plenty to be happy about with the transfer from Alabama starting the season behind center.

It is interesting to me, though, that the second most-popular answer was just that people were happy that a decision was made. I felt like the QB battle was pretty drama and angst-free, but I think halfway through camp is the right time to pick the guy. Of course, if there just is no right answer yet, then you have to let it play out. But, since Ryan Day settled in on Sayin, that must mean that the sophomore distanced himself from Kienholz. And if that’s the case, I’m happy that Sayin is advancing and is apparently ready to take on the challenge of being Ohio State’s starting quarterback.

Question 2: In addition to Downs, Inniss, Styles, and Siereveld, who do you think should have been OSU’s fifth captain?

In a vacuum, I think Carnell Tate is absolutely the correct answer. From everything he has been through on the field to waiting his turn in the most crowded position room in the country to being a second-year starter to being an outspoken leader, in my mind, there is no doubt that the wide receiver is captain material.

But that’s the problem… he’s a wide receiver. Since fellow WR Brandon Inniss was already named a captain, it would seem unlikely that Day and company would pick a second captain from the same position group. That would also eliminate Jeremiah Smith, Luke Montgomery, and Arvell Reese from contention, and while the two defensive ends would make fine choices, yesterday, I argued that by virtue of being the team’s starting quarterback, Julian Sayin should be a captain.

Look, a team’s QB is by default a leader, you might as well make it official and let him participate in the fancy leadership meetings.

Throughout the year, we ask questions of the most plugged-in Ohio State fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.