Ohia "Heavy Favorites" to land top QB Transfer Sayin from Alabama

Submitted by Denard In Space on January 19th, 2024 at 5:49 PM

Before the hiring of Ross Bjork, the Central Ohio Board of Sports Business (my new moniker for OSU) had already been ramping up acquisition of on-field talent via transfer portal and traditional pay for play recruiting. It seems that despite their many humiliations, touted transfers like Quinshon Judkins and Will Howard were attracted to Ohio's professional atmosphere; now they are the "heavy favorite" to land 5* QB transfer Julian Sayin. 

What are folks thoughts about this commercial endeavor? I have been sort of preparing myself mentally that they might be purchasing an undefeated year next year with that kind of budget. But with the addition of Bjork to their corporate structure, have the Ohians risked descending into Texas A&M territory of legendary recruitment followed by legendary attrition (by making the most on-the-nose hire of all time)? 

Anyway, I'm just glad to be a fan of the best college football team of all time, team 144. They are forever. 

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Cam

January 19th, 2024 at 5:59 PM ^

I couldn’t care less. Even if OSU manages to win it all next year, it’ll be with mercenaries. That will never come close to what Michigan had this year.

Joined: 07/23/2018

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SalvatoreQuattro

January 19th, 2024 at 6:02 PM ^

If Sayin is their starter next year they are in deep shit. They also stand to lose Noland if they pick up Sayin.

Noland probably goes to UGA.

OSU has gotten a mediocre QB and OC, returned two DEs who aren’t elite pass rushers, returned an injury prone RB, added a RB with a toxic personality, and still have Coach Headcase.

OSU isn’t demonstrably better than they were this year. Loss of Harrison supersedes the addition of Jenkins. 

Joined: 11/30/2010

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darkstar

January 19th, 2024 at 6:06 PM ^

Can't sign a good team culture or chemistry from the portal but good for them. Loading up on superstar talent has worked out every single time it's been done /s

Joined: 11/08/2016

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Ballislife

January 19th, 2024 at 6:30 PM ^

I think only the second half of your statement should fall under the /s. Michigan debunked the first half by adding guys such as Olu Oluwatimi, Drake Nugent, AJ Barner, Josaiah Stewart, and Josh Wallace from the portal. Yes they’re not 5* mercs, but they definitely added to both Michigan’s culture and chemistry. 

Joined: 02/26/2014

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njvictor

January 19th, 2024 at 6:10 PM ^

Not to go all tinfoil hat here, but let me put this out there. Alabama had already been accused and basically admitted to tampering with Bama players. A lot of people are rightfully puzzled by OSU hiring O’Brien, but he was Sayin’s lead recruiter at Bama. Then all of the sudden Sayin enters the portal and OSU is immediately the favorite within an hour?  Is it out of the question that there was some behind the scenes deal to get Sayin to come to OSU with the condition that OSU hired O’Brien?

Joined: 07/20/2017

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BoFlex

January 19th, 2024 at 6:33 PM ^

I'm not a NCAA rules expert, but I've heard on several podcasts that a common loophole that coaches are employing is contacting transfer prospects through their current players.

Like it is against the rules for coaches to directly contact another team's players that haven't entered the transfer portal yet, but... apparently if there is say a mutual contact (i.e. players that became friends during the high school recruitment process, or former HS teammates), then it is legal for the coach to be like:

- "Hey, Player X, you played high school ball with Player Y, right? Send him a text, and see if he likes playing for Arizona State or does he ever dream about playing for Michigan...."

Joined: 05/30/2011

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Bluesince89

January 19th, 2024 at 6:11 PM ^

So if that happens, Air Noland has to transfer out. Like I said in the other thread, this doesn’t really change things for next year so I don’t see it helping or hurting us. 

Joined: 09/14/2008

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iMBlue2

January 19th, 2024 at 7:31 PM ^

I get the sentiment but Jayden Denegal and Jadyn Davis were/are 4 stars.  Looks like the favorite to start next year is Orji who is/was a three star but there were 3 total qbs that played in the nationional championship JJ, Penix and…Orji.  Should be interesting not going to lie would love to get one of these 5 star laser rocket arm qbs but it just doesn’t seem like it’s going to be a reality moving forward.

Joined: 11/24/2017

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NJblue2

January 19th, 2024 at 6:32 PM ^

Fuck them honestly. 

It's so stupid that they continue to get every 5 star. We just won a national title and we're most likely losing our coach and a chunk of our staff and our recruiting is eh. 

The joy of winning the title is amazing and I prefer this feeling over anything else. I just want to keep the high going and it doesn't seem like it will.

Joined: 08/08/2010

MGoPoints: 30988

BoFan

January 19th, 2024 at 6:35 PM ^

Ross and Ryan say

”if you can’t beat them fair and square then cheat”. 
 

Blowing another million on an OC is not cheating.  But offering NiL as an inducement is.  And Ryan publicly said they need to do that.  And now Ross is the expert on how to do it and get away with it.  
 

 

Joined: 03/09/2012

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NotAMichiganSpy

January 19th, 2024 at 6:45 PM ^

Makes no difference in my opinion. I already thought Noland would be good so now they have two guys who will be good and can only keep one. Last time they were in this predicament they chose Haskins over Burrow.

Noland is probably a bit annoyed by this.

Joined: 10/19/2023

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bronxblue

January 19th, 2024 at 6:45 PM ^

OSU has never had issues acquiring talent.  We'll see how they use it - Bill O'Brien hasn't been a particularly good OC so we'll see how they look.

I do wonder how this will affect retention of Noland, who's also on this class and basically got recruited over.  That's the thing about trying to basically buy a class - you are going to piss off some people and loyalty to your program is harder to generate.  

Joined: 11/22/2008

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EikMelynai

January 19th, 2024 at 6:46 PM ^

Sayin may have put his name into the transfer portal because of the coaching shake-up at Bama, knowing that he can withdraw too. Not counting Bama out, especially with Saban still being close to the program. 

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