Julian Sayin has not yet thrown a touchdown in an Ohio State Buckeyes jersey, but he’s already winning respect beyond the locker room. The highly touted quarterback recruit, a former five-star talent and one of the most talked-about names in the college football world, made headlines this week for reasons not directly tied to his arm strength, football IQ, or elite footwork. Instead, it was a message—a brief, elegant, and thoughtful note directed at Will Howard, Ohio State’s veteran transfer quarterback from Kansas State—that turned heads and left fans and analysts alike impressed with Sayin’s maturity and character.
In an era of cutthroat quarterback competitions and ego-driven positional battles, it’s refreshing—if not outright rare—to see a young player exhibit grace in the face of what could be viewed as a major setback. Sayin’s message to Howard came just hours after it became clear that the starting quarterback role for the Buckeyes in the 2025 season was, at least for now, firmly in the hands of the more experienced Howard. Rather than stew in frustration, quietly distance himself from the team, or feed into social media narratives clamoring for a quarterback controversy, Sayin did the opposite. He praised Howard. He congratulated him. And most importantly, he showed that the culture at Ohio State continues to attract not just premier talent, but also premier character.
The gesture wasn’t performative. It wasn’t flashy or laced with subtweet drama. It was a simple message—genuine and understated—that revealed the kind of competitor Sayin is. He wrote, “Will’s earned everything coming to him. He’s a leader and he makes our whole team better. I’m learning a lot from him and grateful to share the room. Let’s get to work.” That final sentence—“Let’s get to work”—spoke volumes. It told the world that Sayin isn’t going anywhere. That he’s committed to the process. That while he may be a prodigy, he understands the value of patience, apprenticeship, and respecting those ahead of him on the depth chart.
For the Ohio State faithful, this was an emotional moment, one that encapsulated the high hopes pinned on both quarterbacks for different reasons. Will Howard was brought in to stabilize the quarterback position after an inconsistent 2024 season. He offers toughness, Big 12-tested savvy, and the ability to command a huddle. Sayin, meanwhile, is the future. He’s the quarterback many fans envision lifting trophies in the years to come. Yet instead of rivalry, Sayin chose respect.
Head coach Ryan Day has often emphasized the importance of culture over chaos, especially in a sport increasingly influenced by NIL deals, transfer portal movement, and external noise. He wants competitors, not divas. And in Julian Sayin, Day seems to have struck gold—not just as a passer, but as a teammate who buys into the program’s long view. When asked about Sayin’s message, Day didn’t hide his pride. “Julian gets it,” he said. “He’s one of the most talented young quarterbacks I’ve ever worked with, but what really makes him special is who he is as a person. The way he responded to the situation with Will—it speaks to his maturity and commitment. We’re lucky to have both those guys.”
Sayin’s message also struck a chord beyond the program. Former Buckeyes, now in the NFL, shared it on social media. ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit called it “a reminder that leadership doesn’t wait for a starting role.” It became a viral talking point not because it was controversial, but because it was rare—an example of old-school team-first mentality in a modern landscape that often favors self-promotion over selflessness.
It’s worth noting that Sayin had every reason to take the news hard. As one of the top-ranked quarterbacks coming out of high school, he had suitors across the country. Alabama, Georgia, USC—every blue-blood program made their pitch. But Sayin chose Ohio State in part because he believed in Day’s ability to develop quarterbacks and the program’s consistent presence on the national stage. He arrived in Columbus to great fanfare. Fans talked about him the way they once did about Justin Fields and C.J. Stroud. For someone with that level of expectation placed on his shoulders, it would’ve been understandable to feel deflated upon being told he would begin the season on the bench. But instead of turning inward, Sayin turned outward—to support the man who won the job.
What makes Sayin’s response even more commendable is the competitive environment he inhabits. Quarterback rooms are intense. Every day in practice is a mini-battle, every rep an audition. Coaches have to weigh talent against experience, leadership against raw potential. There is constant comparison. In many cases, when one quarterback gets the nod, the other packs his bags. That’s not the case here. Not with Sayin. He’s opted in—for the long haul.
And that decision, in many ways, may prove to be the most important of his young career. For while Howard may be the starter today, college football is a marathon, not a sprint. Injuries happen. Slumps occur. Opportunities arise in the most unexpected ways. Sayin’s willingness to stay ready, to support the team, and to grow behind the scenes puts him in prime position to take over when the time comes—and to do so with the full backing of the locker room.
Meanwhile, Will Howard’s response to Sayin’s message was equally classy. Speaking to reporters during a media availability, Howard said, “Julian’s the real deal. The kid’s got everything you’d want in a quarterback, but more importantly, he’s a great teammate. What he said meant a lot. This is a room where we lift each other up. Iron sharpens iron. He’s going to be special.” That mutual respect matters. It creates harmony in the quarterback room. It helps the team operate at a higher level. And it offers fans something they rarely see: true camaraderie at the most pressure-packed position in sports.
There’s no denying that Sayin wants to play. All elite competitors do. And there’s no doubt that, had things broken differently in spring camp or early practices, Sayin could just as easily be the one preparing to lead the Buckeyes onto the field in Week 1. But he’s taking the long view, and that patience is a dangerous weapon when paired with his talent. He’s using this time to learn the playbook deeper, master the tempo of the college game, and watch how Howard handles the spotlight, the huddle, and the daily grind of Big Ten football.
The message Sayin sent is already being talked about in recruiting circles. Coaches at the high school and college level are using it as an example to their young quarterbacks: this is how you handle competition. This is what maturity looks like. For Ohio State, it’s also a selling point. They’re not just recruiting the best talent—they’re shaping it into leaders.
It’s easy to forget how young these players are. Julian Sayin is barely out of high school. He’s adjusting to life as a college student, learning a complex offensive scheme, waking up at 5 a.m. for workouts, and navigating the microscope that comes with playing quarterback at one of the most scrutinized programs in the country. And yet, when faced with a moment that could have gone sideways, he chose grace.
That one message—so simple, so humble—reaffirmed why Sayin was such a prized recruit. It showed why coaches love him. Why teammates trust him. And why his time, when it comes, will be met not with resentment or fractured loyalty, but with a team that is ready to follow him.
In Columbus, the future is always a topic of conversation. Fans are always peering ahead to the next Heisman hopeful, the next championship run, the next quarterback who could take the program to the promised land. But with Julian Sayin, the future isn’t just bright because of his arm. It’s bright because of his mind, his values, and his willingness to serve the team first. That’s a foundation championships are built on.
And whether or not Sayin sees meaningful snaps this season, his impact has already been felt. With one message, he made the quarterback room stronger. He reminded the fanbase what real leadership looks like. And he gave the college football world something worth celebrating—an example of character winning the day.
