Ohio State could repeat mistake with 5 star QB Julian Sayin as they did with Quinn Ewers

The pain of losing Quinn Ewers to Texas was finally felt by the Ohio State Buckeyes in 2023. Instead of starting one of the highest-rated 5-star recruits in program history in 2023, the Buckeyes had to trot Kyle McCord out. McCord flailed, while Ewers led Texas to the College Football Playoff.

Now, the Buckeyes are trying to balance a loaded five-man depth chart at quarterback entering the 2024 season. Will Howard is expected to be named the starter , with Devin Brown, Lincoln Kienholz, Julian Sayin, and Air Noland trailing. The latter two are the most interesting, as there are parallels between Sayin, Nolan, and Ewers.

The Buckeyes, in part, lost Ewers because he felt he was not involved enough in the team's 2021 season. The team was limited in how many quarterbacks they could bring on road games, and because Ewers had no chance to play against Nebraska or Michigan, he was left off the travel roster.

This made me think as to whether the Buckeyes could be faced with a similar limitation in 2024. With Howard and Brown likely being active each game, would Ohio State be willing to completely leave Sayin or Noland at home for their major road games and bring Kienholz?

This line of thinking is going to be key for head coach Ryan Day and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly. Sayin and Noland can only keep their redshirts if they play in up to four games. They could burn that total by the end of September.

If they don't, and give each of the freshmen the chance to play in two early games each, then that leaves road games at Oregon, Penn State, and Northwestern remaining on the schedule. Would Day risk bringing one of Sayin or Noland over Kienholz to Happy Valley or Autzen to make them happy?

I think it would be wise for Ohio State to bring one to each. They came to play but won't in a major way until at least 2025. Kienholz seems to have the least value to the program long-term, so that must play into the decision.

Why Did Quinn Ewers Leave Ohio State?

Ewers emerged as one of college football's most acclaimed quarterback prospects ever. Topping the charts as the Class of 2021's premier recruit, he snagged an almost flawless rating from leading recruitment evaluators. Securing Ewers was a monumental coup for Ohio State, yet after a single semester, he opted for a transfer to Texas.

Several factors contributed to Ewers' decision to move to Texas mere months following his early enrollment at Ohio State. A significant reason for his transfer was his desire to be nearer to his hometown. Originating from Southlake, Texas, a brief journey to Austin, Ewers preferred being closer to his family and friends than Columbus could provide. This feeling of homesickness might not be unexpected for someone at 17.

Ewers also sought to play for the team he had always supported. A lifelong fan of the Texas Longhorns, he described joining the team as fulfilling a lifelong dream.

There was an internal belief that Ewers' departure from Ohio State was motivated by his inability to outdo the reigning starter, C.J. Stroud, who had been a contender for the Heisman Trophy. Ewers likely would have remained a backup in 2022 as Stroud wrapped up his college career ahead of an NFL move.

A primary motivator for Ewers was the opportunity presented by the NCAA's recent approval of rules permitting athletes to earn from Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) agreements.

Texas stands out as one of the most profitable arenas for NIL agreements. Nonetheless, when Ewers accepted a $1.4 million NIL deal at Ohio State, Texas had yet to green-light athletes' capacity to profit in such a manner. Since transferring, Ewers has reportedly landed multiple NIL deals in Texas.

Moreover, Ewers quickly forged a strong connection with Steve Sarkisian, the head coach of Texas. Sarkisian is renowned for his role in developing several high-profile quarterbacks over his career.