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USA Today
05-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Julian Sayin came up big at Ohio State spring game, but is he big enough?
Julian Sayin came up big at Ohio State spring game, but is he big enough? Ohio State found its starting quarterback Saturday, but can the relatively vertically-challenged Julian Sayin find his receivers over the giants in front of him? Let's discuss. But first a spring game recap. For weeks, we have been hearing (and seeing during some limited access) that the Buckeyes' starting QB job is up for grabs. Whether true or not, Sayin, the second-year quarterback with the quick release, did most of the grabbing in the annual glorified scrimmage in Ohio Stadium. The 6-footer – he is listed at 6-1 but after standing next to him … it's a stretch – completed 17 of 24 passes for 175 yards and a touchdown. He also led a second TD drive. Lincoln Kienholz's numbers were not bad. He was 12 of 18 for 158 yards and two TDs, but Sayin came out well ahead in the eye test. Sayin's ability to stand his ground in the pocket and deliver on-the-money passes to all areas of the field put him ahead of Kienholz in the pecking order. The backup's backup, at least as of now, Tavien St. Clair was 11 of 15 for 116 yards, a touchdown and two 'I'm only a true freshman' interceptions. Ohio State coach Ryan Day is not ready to name a starter, and won't be until the weeks leading to the Aug. 30 opener against Texas in the Shoe. Two reasons for his wait-and-see approach: 1. There is an entire summer of workouts and fall camp to analyze; and 2. Why name a starter before the transfer portal opens Wednesday and risk having your backup bolt for another school? Did Julian Sayin win OSU's starting QB job? But Sayin is the guy. Bank it. And mark it down as the perfect scenario for OSU, which found its worthy starter to go with a capable backup. I'm not sure how comfortable Day is, if the season began this week, with Kienholz being one play away from taking the field, but the QB position feels more secure than it did 48 hours ago. 'Lincoln settled down after the first drive or so. Made some nice throws,' Day said. 'But I thought Julian, for the most part, early on was in rhythm and moving the team down the field for a couple touchdowns, which was good.' Sayin is definitely smooth and will make the routine plays routinely, which is priority No. 2 in Day's system (No. 1 is no turnovers). He appears to be everything OSU thought he would be when the Buckeyes snagged the former five-star Alabama recruit after he entered the portal following Nick Saban's retirement. But he's small. Or smallish. And Day and OSU are not accustomed to starting QBs under 6-3. Will Howard is 6-4, as was Dwayne Haskins. Justin Fields, C.J. Stroud and Kyle McCord are 6-3. Size matters. But how much? Buy Ohio State books, posters, gear from CFP title win 'When you're in the trees, you have to find passing lanes,' Day said, referencing offensive and defensive linemen who typically average between 6-4 and 6-5. Sayin can scramble a bit but is not a vaunted runner. His calling card is his quick release and ability to read the field, maybe not as well as Stroud but well enough to keep the chains moving. Brian Hartline likely won't be calling as many quarterback keepers as Chip Kelly did for Howard last season, and you can forget about run-pass options (RPOs). But Saturday's small sample size showed a quarterback who should be good enough to win a lot of games. 'Does (Sayin's size) affect how we call plays? Not really,' Day said. 'There are certain things that are easier to do than others, but at the end of the day, there are a lot of guys his stature who are playing in the NFL and played a lot of high-level college football.' Well, yes and no. In the NFL, there was Drew Brees and ... Other similar-sized QBs, like Russell Wilson, typically excel, and escape trouble, with their legs. But height is not a make-or-breaker in college. A tall quarterback is preferable, but the list of Heisman-winning quarterbacks includes a who's who of runts, relatively speaking. Is Julian Sayin tall enough to win big with the Buckeyes? Bryce Young and Kyler Murray are 5-10, though they can run. Johnny Manziel is 6-0. Great in college. Stunk in the NFL. Baker Mayfield is listed at 6-1. Key word, 'listed.' Closer to home, Troy Smith comes in at 6-0, but we stood eye to eye when I interviewed him many moons ago. And I'm no 6-footer. Yet he won the 2006 Heisman with the Buckeyes. 'He (Sayin) certainly is tall enough, but you need to get your elbow up and play big,' Day said. Ah, the crux of the matter. It's not only that Sayin is short(ish), but his throwing mechanics lean more Bernie Kosar (look him up, kids) than Payton Manning. It's not quite sidearm, but neither is it over the top. 'When you're not 6-4, you have to play big,' Day said. 'That means your elbow has to be above your shoulder. We're not allowed to get tipped balls (Sayin had one Saturday); that's part of the deal when you're a smaller quarterback.' Sayin works with a netting device in practice that forces him to keep his elbow up, so expect him to improve his mechanics by fall. We shall see. But all things considered, Day has to feel more comfortable with Sayin than he did a week ago, when the QB looked only so-so during the 'student appreciation day' practice. Kienholz outplayed him that day, but not Saturday. This time, a surprisingly 'small' crowd of 40,136 – it's a theme! – saw OSU's future flash before their eyes. And it looked pretty good. Sports columnist Rob Oller can be reached at roller@ and on at @rollerCD.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Insider Highlights Ohio State's Major Roster Weakness For National Title Defense
The Ohio State football program has long been one of the nation's best, a standard reinforced by the Buckeyes' national championship win at the College Football Playoff in January. But in NCAA football, such success is difficult to sustain, given that player tenures can be so short. Advertisement The Buckeyes saw 14 of its players from the 2024 championship team selected in the 2025 NFL Draft. This leaves head coach Ryan Day with gaps to plug entering the new season – which begins with a CFP semifinal rematch against Arch Manning and the Texas Longhorns. The advent of the transfer portal has helped big programs like Ohio State reinforce the roster – and according to college football insider Greg McElroy, Day will have to lean on the portal specifically to fill the "obvious need" Ohio State has as it prepares to defend its title. "It's pretty obvious here, when evaluating Ohio State's spring game, talking to people that have covered the sport — they've got to find depth at defense tackle," McElroy said on his "Always College Football" show. Advertisement Former Alabama quarterback McElroy believes that although the Buckeyes have added North Carolina transfer Beau Atkinson and Idaho State transfer Logan George off the edge, Day needs to acquire interior depth behind starters Eddrick Houston and Kayden McDonald. 'It was pretty obvious when you watched Ohio State in the spring, there was a lot more movement to be had by Ohio State's offensive line against those defensive tackles not named McDonald and Houston, so you can see the push," McElroy said. Ohio State already has a talent-rich defense, headlined by potential 2026 top-five draft pick Caleb Downs. Advertisement As such, McElroy insists that Day and the Buckeyes can afford to be picky and acquire the best interior line talent they can find before the season begins in Columbus on August 30. 'I think Ohio State absolutely needs to fortify the depth at defensive tackle if there's a good one that is available to them," McElroy said. "They don't need to settle.' Related: Star Playmaker Sends Strong Message on Ohio State Football
New York Times
25-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Chiefs draft OT Josh Simmons: How he fits, pick grade and scouting intel
The Kansas City Chiefs have selected Ohio State offensive tackle Josh Simmons with the final pick, No. 32 overall, of the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Simmons spent the past two seasons as the Buckeyes' starting left tackle after transferring from San Diego State, where he played on the opposite end of the line. Advertisement He was limited to just six games during Ohio State's national championship-winning season due to a knee injury suffered in his team's 32-31 loss to Oregon in October. Simmons, however, participated in the Buckeyes' pro day and posted 33 reps on the bench press, which would've been tied for the most at the NFL Scouting Combine. Simmons ranked No. 20 in Dane Brugler's top 300 big board. Here's what Brugler had to say about him in his annual NFL Draft guide: 'Simmons explodes out of his stance in pass protection and plays with knee-bend, balance and calmness to govern his movements, shoot his hands and stay square to pass rushers. He isn't an overpowering mauler in the run game, but (Chip) Kelly's offense highlighted Simmons' range when executing pulls, reaches, traps, etc. Overall, Simmons is a nimble, coordinated pass protector with tremendous athletic poise and the body control to be a long-term starting left tackle in the NFL.' What an anonymous coach had to say about Simmons in Bruce Feldman's mock draft: 'He's an elite athlete with rare ability to recover from being out of position,' a Big Ten D-line coach said. 'He's also got some real grown-man strength to him.' OL prospect Josh Simmons will do whatever it takes to protect his QB 💪 📺: 2025 #NFLDraft – April 24-26 on NFLN/ESPN/ABC📱: Stream on @NFLPlus — NFL (@NFL) April 10, 2025 Come back later for more analysis of Simmons.
New York Post
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Meet the WAGs of the 2025 NFL Draft
The 2025 NFL Draft has officially arrived. As the top college prospects await to hear their names called by commissioner Roger Goodell in Green Bay on Thursday when the first round gets underway, get to know the significant others of the league's future stars. Leanna Lenee, fiancée of Colorado wide receiver and cornerback Travis Hunter 7 Leanna Lenee, fiancée of Colorado wide receiver and cornerback Travis Hunter Instagram/Travis Hunter Advertisement Travis Hunter's fiancée, Leanna Lenee, has been by his side long before he became a household name at Colorado. The cornerback-wide receiver hybrid, who won the 2024 Heisman Trophy, and Lenee revealed their engagement in February 2024 after going public with their relationship in 2022. Hunter and Lenee, who graduated from Kennesaw State University in Georgia with a bachelor's degree in 2022, met as teenagers. Advertisement In a since-deleted TikTok, Lenee said she met Hunter when she was 19. In a 2022 video on their joint YouTube channel, Hunter explained that he messaged Lenee on Instagram, but she wanted to be friends first. Things turned romantic after they attended a friend's birthday party together. The couple's anniversary is Feb. 23, according to a previous Instagram post. After Hunter's career at Colorado ended, the couple relocated to a guest home on the property of Athlete Performance Ranch in Fort Worth, Texas, formerly a cattle ranch that was turned into a training ground for professional athletes, according to Sports Illustrated. Advertisement In 2024, Lenee deleted her social media after facing public scrutiny over their relationship. Skyler Skoglund, girlfriend of Ohio State quarterback Will Howard 7 Skyler Skoglund is dating former Ohio State quarterback Will Howard. Instagram/Skyler Skoglund Ohio State quarterback Will Howard and his girlfriend, Skyler Skoglund, are a cute couple. The pair captured the public's attention during the Buckeyes' 2025 national championship run. Advertisement They were seen kissing after Ohio State's victory over unbeaten Oregon in the 111th Rose Bowl on Jan. 1, 2025, and again after the Buckeyes' 34-23 victory over Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff national championship on Jan. 20. Skoglund graduated from the University of Miami with a Bachelor's degree in psychology in May 2023, according to LinkedIn, which states she is looking for opportunities in the healthcare industry. She was in the Alpha Phi sorority. Tyler Nelson, girlfriend of Ole Miss defensive tackle Walter Nolen 7 Tyler Nelson is dating former Ole Miss defensive tackle Walter Nolen. Instagram/Tyler Nelson Tyler Nelson is dating Ole Miss defensive tackle Walter Nolen. The couple went public with their relationship in September 2024. Nelson, who graduated from LSU in May 2024, attended Nolen's Pro Day in Oxford in March 2025. Kiersten Schmitt, girlfriend of Iowa State wide receiver Jayden Higgins 7 Kiersten Schmitt is dating Iowa State wide receiver Jayden Higgins. Instagram/Kiersten Schmitt The girlfriend of Iowa State wide receiver Jayden Higgins is an athlete, too. Advertisement In March 2025, Kiersten Schmitt announced her commitment to play volleyball at UC Santa Barbara after three seasons at Iowa State, where she earned CSC Academic All-District 2024. Schmitt is majoring in communications and wants to be a sports marketer, according to her UC Santa Barbara bio. The couple celebrated two years together in March 2025. Jordan Shough, wife of Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough 7 Jordan Shough is married to Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough Jordan Shough/Instagram Advertisement Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough isn't the only athlete in the family. Wife Jordan Shough played soccer at the University of Oregon, where she graduated in 2022. That same year, Shough — who began his collegiate career at Oregon in 2018 — popped the question to his then-girlfriend. 'FOR LIFE,' exclaimed Shough, who transferred to Texas Tech in 2021 and Louisville in 2024. 'I love you so much. I can't wait to marry you. The couple tied the knot in La Jolla, Calif., last April. Kalani Bagsby, girlfriend of Alabama guard Tyler Booker Advertisement 7 Kalani Bagsby is dating Alabama guard Tyler Booker Kalani Bagsby/Instagram Much like boyfriend Tyler Booker, Kalani Bagsby is making her own mark at the University of Alabama. A member of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority, Bagsby is a staple on game days and has supported the Crimson Tide in custom Booker-themed looks. For an October 2024 contest, Bagsby paired her white mini dress adorned with the guard's No. 52 jersey number with a matching bag and varsity jacket. Savanna Jackson, fiancée of Georgia safety Malaki Starks Advertisement 7 Savanna Jackson is engaged to Georgia safety Malaki Starks Savanna Jackson/Instagram Savanna Jackson is ready for the next chapter with her 'forever.' Jackson celebrated her engagement to Georgia safety Malaki Starks in October 2024, with the Bulldogs star proposing in front of a heart-shaped flower arch. 'October 25,' she posted on Instagram. 'My person forever and ever and ever.' Starks posted his own engagement tribute, writing at the time, 'Beyond blessed to be on this journey with you forever and always.'
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Four Ohio State Buckeyes linemen honored at Cleveland Cavaliers' NBA playoff game
The celebration of the Ohio State football team's national championship continued Sunday night in Cleveland. After touring the nation's capital, including a White House visit in which Vice President JD Vance dropped the team's championship trophy, the Buckeyes had four offensive linemen recognized at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse during the Cleveland Cavaliers' playoff opener, a 121-100 victory over the Miami Heat. Luke Montgomery, Tegra Tshabola, Deonte Armstrong and Devontae Armstrong were celebrated with an ovation during a timeout for the Buckeyes' 2025 national championship victory over Notre Dame — the first team to win the College Football Playoff's new 12-team tournament. Advertisement All four linemen who attended the Cavs' playoff game are Ohioans. Montgomery is from Findlay, Tshabola is from West Chester and the Armstrong twins are from Elyria. Devontae Armstrong proudly displayed one of the Buckeyes' national championship rings, which were issued April 12 at the OSU spring game. Along with forming 'O-H-I-O,' while being applauded white a sellout crowd, the four Buckeyes were also feted with a rendition of the song 'Hang on Sloopy' made famous at OSU football games by the school's marching band. Blue Jackets reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at bhedger@ and @ This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Four Ohio State Buckeyes honored at Cleveland Cavaliers playoff game
