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by Bo Marchionte
@bomarchionte | College2Pro.com
Published May 13, 2026, 4:46 PM
The Quarterback Factory in Columbus
- 2019 – Dwayne Haskins drafted 15th overall by Commanders
- 2021 – Justin Fields, drafted 11th overall by Bears
- 2023 – C.J. Stroud, drafted 2nd overall by Texans
- 2027 – Julian Sayin drafted…
Ohio State has become one of college football’s most reliable quarterback factories. The Buckeyes consistently pair elite recruiting with one of the nation’s most explosive offensive systems, surrounding their signal-callers with NFL-caliber talent at wide receiver, running back and along the offensive line. The result is an environment designed to maximize production and place quarterbacks at the center of the national spotlight.
That success has translated into significant NFL interest. Beginning with Terrelle Pryor, who entered the league through the 2011 Supplemental Draft, Ohio State has repeatedly produced quarterbacks who intrigue professional evaluators. Cardale Jones followed in 2016 as a fourth-round pick, and the Buckeyes’ recent run has included first-round selections Dwayne Haskins, Justin Fields and C.J. Stroud.
The draft pedigree, however, has yielded uneven results. Haskins and Fields entered the NFL with considerable expectations but never fully justified their first-round valuations. Stroud quickly altered the narrative with a sensational rookie campaign built on timing, accuracy and advanced pocket awareness. While his second season cooled some of the early excitement, he remains the strongest professional success story from this recent group of Buckeye quarterbacks.
Julian Sayin Faces the Brightest Spotlight Yet
Career Numbers at Ohio State
- Height: 6’1”
- Weight: 208 pounds
- Games Played: 18
- Passing Yards: 3,694
- Touchdowns: 33
- Interceptions: 8
- Completion Percentage: 75.9%
That history places added scrutiny on Julian Sayin. If he performs to expectations, Sayin could become the next Ohio State quarterback selected in the first round and help the Buckeyes pull even with Alabama for the most first-round quarterbacks drafted since 2019.
The attraction for NFL scouts is straightforward. Quarterbacks operating in high-volume passing offenses with elite supporting casts often post eye-catching numbers. Completion percentage, touchdown-to-interception ratio and overall efficiency provide useful context, but no single statistic can define a prospect. Evaluators must weigh production against scheme, surrounding talent and the quarterback’s ability to process quickly and create when the structure of the play breaks down.
Sayin enters the season with one of the best supporting casts in the country, led by Jeremiah Smith, a receiver already discussed as a potential future No. 1 overall selection. New offensive coordinator Arthur Smith is expected to add another dimension to an offense that already overwhelms opponents with speed and spacing.
Production Is Only the Beginning
The Buckeyes have never lacked offensive fireworks. What remains unresolved is whether their next star quarterback can translate dazzling collegiate production into sustained NFL success. That is the challenge in front of Sayin.
At Ohio State, the numbers are often spectacular and the expectations even greater. For NFL decision-makers, the real task is separating what belongs to the system from what belongs to the quarterback. Sayin now steps into that familiar equation, carrying both the advantages of Ohio State’s offensive machine and the burden of proving he can succeed beyond it.
Since the 2019 NFL Draft, Alabama has surpassed Ohio State’s ability to funnel quarterbacks into Round 1. Ohio State has already produced Dwayne Haskins, Justin Fields and C.J. Stroud. Alabama has sent Tua Tagovailoa, Mac Jones, Bryce Young and Ty Simpson to the league. If Sayin fulfills the lofty expectations that follow him to Columbus, the Buckeyes could draw level at four apiece and continue the quarterback arms race with Alabama.
That is rare company. Recruiting stars is one thing; consistently developing quarterbacks into first-round selections is another. It speaks to infrastructure, coaching continuity, and the ability to prepare passers for the weekly scrutiny that comes with being the face of a major program.
First-Round Picks Are Only Part of the Story
Yet there is an important caveat. Despite sending a steady stream of highly drafted quarterbacks to the NFL, neither Ohio State nor Alabama has produced a quarterback who has firmly established himself as the undisputed gold standard of the professional game. Stroud has looked like the most promising candidate, and Tagovailoa and Young have shown flashes, but the programs have not yet turned out a quarterback who has built the kind of résumé associated with generational figures such as Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes or Peyton Manning.
Julian Sayin Chases More Than Draft Position
That does not diminish the accomplishment. It simply underscores the final hurdle in quarterback development. Producing first-round talent is a remarkable achievement. Producing a player who ultimately defines an NFL era is an entirely different challenge. Sayin now carries the opportunity to keep Ohio State’s production line humming while chasing something even more elusive: becoming the Buckeyes quarterback who turns draft capital into lasting professional greatness.
First-Round Quarterbacks by Draft Class (2019–2026)
2019 NFL Draft (3)
- Kyler Murray – Oklahoma
- Daniel Jones – Duke
- Dwayne Haskins – Ohio State
2020 NFL Draft (4)
- Joe Burrow – LSU
- Tua Tagovailoa – Alabama
- Justin Herbert – Oregon
- Jordan Love – Utah State
2021 NFL Draft (5)
- Trevor Lawrence – Clemson
- Zach Wilson – BYU
- Trey Lance – North Dakota State
- Justin Fields – Ohio State
- Mac Jones – Alabama
2022 NFL Draft (1)
- Kenny Pickett – Pittsburgh
2023 NFL Draft (3)
- Bryce Young – Alabama
- C. J. Stroud – Ohio State
- Anthony Richardson – Florida
2024 NFL Draft (6)
- Caleb Williams – USC
- Jayden Daniels – LSU
- Drake Maye – North Carolina
- Michael Penix Jr. – Washington
- J. McCarthy – Michigan
- Bo Nix – Oregon
2025 NFL Draft (2)
- Cam Ward – Miami (FL)
- Jaxson Dart – Ole Miss
2026 NFL Draft (2)
- Fernando Mendoza – Indiana
- Ty Simpson – Alabama
Schools With the Most First-Round Quarterbacks (2019–2026)
- Alabama – 4
- Ohio State – 3
- LSU – 2
- Oregon – 2
- Oklahoma – 1
- Duke – 1
- Utah State – 1
- Clemson – 1
- BYU – 1
- North Dakota State – 1
- Pittsburgh – 1
- Florida – 1
- USC – 1
Alabama and Ohio State Own the Modern Quarterback Pipeline
When it comes to producing first-round quarterbacks, no two programs have controlled the market quite like Alabama and Ohio State for almost the last decade.
Since 2019, Alabama has delivered four first-round quarterbacks to the NFL, more than any other school in the country. Ohio State is right behind with three. Combined, the two powerhouse programs account for seven of the 26 quarterbacks selected in the opening round during that eight-draft span. That means more than one out of every four first-round quarterbacks came from either Tuscaloosa or Columbus.
The grip these two programs have on the position extends beyond the first round. In the 2025 NFL Draft, Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe was selected in the third round by the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. That same year, Will Howard, fresh off leading Ohio State to a national championship, was selected in the sixth round by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Another crazy tidbit, Sayin originally signed with Alabama in December 2023 and was on campus attending classes in Tuscaloosa, Ala. in January 2024. He transferred to Ohio State from the portal in January of 2024
Sensational Debut Season in Columbus
2025: Julian Honors & Awards
- Heisman Trophy finalist
- Shaun Alexander national freshman of the year
- Second-team all-Big Ten Conference
- Thompson-Randle El Big Ten freshman of the year
2024: Julian Sayin Honors & Awards
- OSU Scholar-Athlete
In 2024, veteran quarterback Will Howard controlled the offense for Ohio State, leaving Sayin in a developmental role where he appeared in five games and attempted just 12 passes. Once Howard departed for the NFL following his selection by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, Sayin stepped into the spotlight and immediately stabilized the Buckeyes offense.
One of the most important indicators when evaluating quarterback prospects is completion percentage, particularly when paired with aggressive downfield decision-making. Sayin’s 75.9 percent completion rate places him in rare company and mirrors the efficiency displayed by Joe Burrow during his historic 2019 Heisman Trophy campaign, when Burrow completed 76.3 percent of his passes.
Scouting Report
The defining trait in Sayin’s game is his football intelligence and operational control. “High football IQ” is often overused in quarterback evaluations, but with Sayin it consistently shows up on tape through anticipation, timing, and spatial awareness. He processes quickly and plays with the tempo of a quarterback already operating ahead of the defense.
There is very little wasted movement in his game. The feet stay connected to the progression, the shoulders remain balanced through traffic, and he consistently throws from stable platforms. Sayin understands how to manipulate coverage defenders with subtle movement rather than relying solely on arm strength. The small details stand out a quick shoulder tilt, a pump fake, or holding a safety for an extra beat before attacking the opposite window.
The arm talent is good rather than overwhelming, but the placement, touch, and timing consistently maximize the throw. He layers the football effectively between coverage levels and shows advanced anticipation working the intermediate portions of the field.
By far the best of the bunch that I’ve seen, and we have another year for Sayin to develop.
Photo Credit Frank Hyatt/College2Pro.com
