Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin inks NIL deal with The Foundation collective

Now enrolled at Ohio State, Julian Sayin has signed a partnership with an NIL collective.

The No. 2 quarterback in the 2024 recruiting class committed to Alabama and went through practices with the Crimson Tide during the lead-up to the Rose Bowl. But following Nick Saban’s retirement, Sayin opted to enter the transfer portal and evaluate his options. He’s now in Columbus with the Buckeyes, where he was set to work with former Alabama offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien, who took the Boston College head coaching job last week.

Sayin is officially a Buckeye, though.

And he’s now inked an NIL deal with the Ohio State-driven NIL collective The Foundation. Run by Brian Schottenstein and former Ohio State quarterback Cardale Jones, the donor-driven, nonprofit organization has worked with many current players in the last 24 months. The Foundation reported $2.4 million in contributions in a 2022 federal tax filing. The organization earned 501(c)(3) status from the Internal Revenue Service in April 2022, allowing for tax-deductible donations.

According to Schottenstein, The Foundation raised more than $2.4 million in January 2024 alone.

Sayin joins a growing list of athletes to sign a deal with The Foundation, including Caleb Downs and Jeremiah Smith. The projected spend for roster management for NIL collectives and schools at the Power Five level over the next 12 months is roughly $325 million. Closing in on the third anniversary of the NIL Era, roster value, mostly distributed by collectives, makes up 90% of all the dollars flowing in the marketplace.

A Carlsbad, California, native, Sayin is repped by Excel Sports and recently signed his first endorsement deal with a multi-year partnership with Panini America trading cards. As a senior at Carlsbad this past fall, Sayin threw for 2,347 yards, 24 touchdowns and just one interception on 158 of 212, finishing with a 74.5% completion percentage. He also rushed for 186 yards and four more scores while leading Carlsbad to its fifth straight Avocado League title.

“Certainly, the Julian thing was not something that we planned on,” Ohio State head coach Ryan Day said earlier this month. “When you sit back at this time last year, you don’t say, ‘OK, here’s how we’re going to look at this point next year.’ But when it became a situation that was available, we felt like it was something that could really enhance the room. And so we did it.”

Julian Sayin building NIL brand

At 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, Julian Sayin has impressed with his quick motion and release which pairs with a strong deep ball. He’s also shown the ability to navigate the pocket and throw on the run. He was named the On3 MVP at the Elite 11 Finals and OT7 Finals this past summer.

Landing at Ohio State only helps the quarterback’s marketing value as he’s poised to attract national brand deals. He currently has roughly 49,000 social media followers and an On3 NIL Valuation of $769,000. The valuation is No. 50 in the On3 NIL 100, the first of its kind and defacto NIL ranking of the top 100 high school and college athletes ranked by their On3 NIL Valuation.

The On3 NIL Valuation is calculated by combining roster value and personal NIL. Roster value is the value an athlete has by being a member of his or her team at his or her school, which factors into the role of NIL collectives. NIL in an athlete’s name, image and likeness and the value it could bring to regional and national brands outside of the scope of NIL collectives.

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