Ohio State prioritized 3-way QB battle over transfer portal - ESPN

LAS VEGAS — Ohio State coach Ryan Day reiterated Tuesday that the Buckeyes didn't take in a transfer portal quarterback this offseason because they want to develop the three talented passers they already have on campus.

Sophomore Julian Sayin is battling junior Lincoln Kienholz and true freshman Tavien St. Clair for the starting job as the Buckeyes look to replace Will Howard. After transferring from Kansas State in January 2024, Howard quarterbacked Ohio State to its first national championship in a decade in his lone season with the Buckeyes.

«When we have to, or when we're left in that situation, we will [bring in a transfer quarterback],» Day said during Big Ten media days. «But we want to develop guys, and these are three guys we want to continue to develop.»

Sayin was the nation's top-rated quarterback in the 2024 recruiting class. After originally signing with Alabama, the 6-foot-1, 203-pound Sayin transferred to Ohio State once coach Nick Saban retired.

«Julian certainly gets the ball out quickly,» Day said. «He's had a good offseason. He's intelligent. He's very competitive. He's got good athleticism. He's accurate.»

The 6-foot-3, 207-pound Kienholz, however, pushed Sayin in the spring and will have an opportunity in the preseason to win the job as well. Kienholz, just the second player to sign with the Buckeyes from the state of South Dakota, was a multi-sport star in high school.

«Just a tremendous athlete,» Day said of Kienholz, who has been in the program for three years. «You pick a sport, he can do it. He's like a four handicap (in golf). He can hit the (baseball) out of the park. He was a major-league baseball prospect. He can windmill dunk. He can do a lot of things.»

Because he only arrived at campus