Julian Sayin, Air Noland making each other better in crowded Buckeyes QB room

Air Noland committed to Ohio State in April 2023. He was a linchpin of the Buckeyes’ 2024 signing class and was instantly labeled as the program’s quarterback of the future.

Then, nine months later, Julian Sayin transferred in. No one saw that coming — not even Sayin, or Ohio State for that matter.

Sayin confirmed Tuesday that he left Alabama because of legendary coach Nick Saban’s surprising retirement this past winter.

“I came to play for Coach Saban,” Sayin said. “We had a great relationship through the recruiting process. Loved Coach Saban, and I really want to go play for him. Just the new staff that came in, we didn’t have a relationship prior to when I got there.

“So I just felt like it was the best decision for me to come out here.”

Sayin’s arrival meant the Buckeyes entered spring ball with five scholarship quarterbacks, including two true freshmen who were both Elite 11 finalists and On3 Industry Ranking top-five signal callers.

“We didn’t have much of a relationship prior,” Sayin said, when asked about Noland. “We met each other at Elite 11, knew each other a little bit. And then coming in here with the quarterback room, everyone here is really close. We’re all pushing each other to be better. We’re all taking coaching points from each other, trying to get better.”

Sayin really started to turn heads at Ohio State publicly on Student Appreciation Day at the end of March, showcasing his gunslinger mindset in front of students and media in the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. Then he shed his black stripe on April 8. In the process, he became the fastest true freshman quarterback to shed his black stripe since the tradition was introduced by Urban Meyer in 2012.

So, Sayin hit the ground running this spring. That wasn’t necessarily the case for Noland, who had his ups and downs throughout March and April. Noland admitted Tuesday he got homesick early in his stay on campus as a mid-year enrollee. That said, he finished the spring season on a high note, completing 5-of-7 passes in the spring game for 47 yards and rushing for 42 more yards on five carries while piloting back-to-back touchdown drives.

Noland has settled in and is embracing what is a development year for the College Park, Georgia, native. Part of that is leaning into a growing relationship with Sayin.

“It’s been good,” Noland said. “We teach each other things each and every day, and we just make sure we knowing our reads and make sure the game is slowing down for us.”

He added: “We make each other better in so many ways. You know, that’s my guy.”

“That’s what I expect from him.”

By the end of the 2024 recruiting cycle, the On3 Industry Ranking had Sayin as the No. 2 quarterback in the class and Noland as the No. 5 quarterback in the class.

Both are at Ohio State, and both are making each other better in a crowded, five-scholarship-player room.