Urban Meyer set some interesting expectations for Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin going into Week 1 against Texas. Basically, if you’re Sayin, don’t screw it up! Sayin has a lot of skill, as judged by his recruitment out of high school. The Alabama transfer is in his second year with the Buckeyes and now settled […]
Urban Meyer set some interesting expectations for Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin going into Week 1 against Texas. Basically, if you’re Sayin, don’t screw it up!
Sayin has a lot of skill, as judged by his recruitment out of high school. The Alabama transfer is in his second year with the Buckeyes and now settled into Ryan Day’s system.
Funny enough, Sayin goes up against Arch Manning on the other sideline. While Manning has more hype than virtually any player this year, he hasn’t played much either, all things considered.
“I hate to say it like this, because you never want your quarterback to play like this … He can’t screw it up,” Meyer said on The Joel Klatt Show. “I’m sure, you know, they got excellent coaches, and Ryan’s an expert quarterback coach, you give them so many easy throws. You don’t need to win this game, Julian, you do not have to do that. You have enough cats around you, so you’re going to see a bunch of screens, I would imagine, to Jeremiah and that crew.
“You’re going to see a strong run game. You’re going to see easy throws. And you know what? If you don’t, and I would always tell these young quarterbacks, give us two first downs, and your job is accomplished. That’s all you got to do … just your mindset as you go into each drive. Get two first downs, because in games like this, special teams (matters).”
Despite being the lower-ranked team, the reigning national champion Buckeyes are slight 2.5-point favorites Saturday in its home opener, according to BetMGM’s sportsbook. That’s no surprise for former QB CJ Stroud, who expects Ohio State to run it back as back-to-back national champs, even while breaking in a former Five-Star Plus+ recruit in Sayin as a first-time starter in 2025.
“I say we go all the way. I went up to practice last year and I got to see Julian Sayin and I thought he looked great. You know he’s a Cali kid, and we produce the best quarterbacks. So, I’m excited to see him play,” Stroud said Tuesday morning on ESPN’s First Take. “He may be rusty at first or have some nervousness. But I think once he gets warmed up, Coach (Ryan) Day is going to be calling it great, O-line is going to be blocking, running backs are going to be doing their thing, defense is going to be balling.
“So, when I go up there, I gotta check out Applebee’s and make sure I hit it up, make sure I get some good grub. It’s the NFL’s sponsor of the year, bar and grill, make sure everybody goes watch that commercial. Me, Dan Campbell and Ashton Jeanty went this summer and shot it and I thought it was a really great commercial.”
Category: General Sports
