On Saturday, April 5th, Ohio State had its Student Appreciation Day and held a scrimmage in front of students and media. It was a more intense scrimmage than expected from an April 5 practice, but with positional battles up and down the roster, all eyes were on the Ohio State quarterback battle. The favorite heading into Spring was Julian Sayin, with Lincoln Kienholz right on his heels. Behind them, true freshman Tavien St. Clair is expected to be the third option. However, to this point, nobody has separated himself.
Just like last year, nothing will be decided for a while. At this point last year, it looked like Devin Brown had the inside track to win the job over Will Howard. Then, Howard took the job once Fall camp opened up. Ryan Day is going to keep this competition close to the vest. With just four practices and the Spring Game left, nothing will be decided anytime soon.
The Ohio State Quarterback Battle Won’t Be Decided Anytime Soon
A Win for the Underdog
In the scrimmage, it was widely felt that, on the whole, Kienholz came out on top. The biggest play was made by Keinholz on a deep go ball to Carnell Tate for a touchdown. Overall, Keinholz was sharper and had a better command of the offense. While the practice wasn’t 100% live, the defensive line made its presence known on many occasions.
Sayin fared the worst against the pass rush out of the three contending quarterbacks. Kienholz was able to step up several times and dump it off to avoid a negative play. St. Clair, meanwhile, showed his superb athleticism as the lone quarterback who was allowed to get hit throughout the practice. When the offensive line broke down, St. Clair escaped, kept his eyes downfield, and made a play. While he is a bit more of a project, the talent is there for the true freshman from Bellefontaine.
Both Sayin and Kienholz played with the mix-and-match first-team offense as Day and Brian Hartline continued to find the best configuration. With three skilled players and two linemen who played in the national championship off to the NFL, they’re looking for guys to step up. Brandon Inniss is the favorite to win the third wide receiver role. He had a strong day with both quarterbacks.
It’s a Marathon, Not a Sprint
Rushing to decide this early in the process would be a mistake. While it is best to know who the quarterback will be in the Fall because it establishes continuity, if Day decides this early, it could have unintended consequences. He’ll never admit to it but the prospect of the transfer portal poaching whoever loses the competition is in the back of his mind. Last year, his strategy worked, and only Kyle McCord, predictably, transferred out. Howard moved in, and Kienholz, Brown, and Air Noland stuck around for the 2024 season. Of course, now, Howard graduated, Brown transferred to Cal, and Noland transferred to South Carolina.
At this point, Ohio State only has three scholarship quarterbacks. If Day announced that Sayin is the quarterback, Kienholz may look elsewhere. Rumors were floating around various social media sites that the redshirt sophomore was being courted by other Big Ten programs. Conversely, if Kienholz is declared the early victor, Sayin would absolutely have suitors. As the former top quarterback of the 2024 recruiting class, programs would be coming out of the woodwork to tamper.
Of course, Day not naming a starter is more than that. Truly, no quarterback has elevated himself. Sayin looks to have the highest ceiling but Keinholz is looking the most consistent. St. Clair is truly a wild card but if he plays significant snaps this year, it means Ohio State would have had a 2014-style nuclear meltdown of injuries at the position.
The Spring Game will give a little more context to the Ohio State quarterback battle, but it won’t be the end-all, be-all. Sayin, Kienholz, and St. Clair have a prime opportunity to get a leg up.
Main Image: Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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