ESPN analyst is knocking Ohio State QB Julian Sayin’s Heisman campaign for a wild and unfair reason
Buckeye Nation isn’t going to agree with this one at all
One of the Ohio State Buckeyes’ biggest question marks heading into the season was at the quarterback position. Anytime you lose a national championship quarterback and have to replace him, there will be some level of concern.
With Will Howard off to the NFL, the Buckeyes turned to former Alabama transfer Julian Sayin, and he has been everything — and then some — that Ohio State could have hoped for. Sayin is firmly in the Heisman Trophy conversation, according to most sportsbooks, just a year after attempting only 12 passes as a true freshman.
ESPN knocks Julian Sayin’s Heisman case for an unfair reason
“Voters need to feel something, and right now he has zero emotional imprint on the season,” ESPN’s Pamela Maldonado wrote. “Sure, he’s efficient, clean, and technically superior, but where’s the drama? Efficiency without drama is invisible in a Heisman race. Sayin needs a defining snapshot, something that cuts through the noise. Right now, his whole resume reads like 24 passing touchdowns (none on the ground), 300 yards a game, zero chaos, no sweat. That’s solid pocket-passing, but for the Heisman, it’s vanilla. It’s beautiful in a coach’s office, or for NFL draft grades, but it’s not something voters remember when scrolling through ballots.”
This reads as if Sayin is being criticized for simply being too good — for taking care of business each week without creating chaos. Through nine starts, Sayin has thrown for 2,491 yards, 24 touchdowns, and just four interceptions. The sophomore is completing 81 percent of his passes and averaging 277 passing yards per game. He’s topped 300 yards in five contests this season, including each of his last three outings.
Texas presented a strong defensive challenge, and Sayin passed that test in a game when Ohio State leaned on its defense to secure the win. Penn State was supposed to be one of the toughest matchups on the schedule, but it wasn’t with the way the season derailed for them.
Still, Sayin shredded the Nittany Lions for four touchdowns and over 300 yards in a day he made look easy. Of course, his biggest tests are still to come. Sayin and Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza could very well be battling it out for the Heisman Trophy when the Big Ten Championship rolls around. Before then, Sayin has a chance to capture his “Heisman moment” against the Michigan Wolverines.
Neither Howard nor C.J. Stroud beat Michigan, and Sayin could become the first Buckeyes quarterback in four tries to do so.
Sayin has been terrific for Ohio State this season, and his ability to dominate without drama shouldn’t be viewed as a flaw. The numbers speak for themselves — and right now, the Buckeyes’ quarterback is leading the way.
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