Alabama Football: Crimson Tide lands Julian Sayin

Alabama football landed a commitment from 2024 5-star quarterback Julian Sayin on Wednesday afternoon. Sayin, who hails from Carlsbad, California, is considered the 14th best player in the class. He is also ranked as the second best quarterback in the country and the best player in the state of California.

Julian Sayin hopes to follow in the footsteps of Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young as elite Alabama quarterbacks from the West Coast.

Though he is not quite as small as Young, Sayin is similarly undersized at 6’1” and 185 pounds. Like Bryce Young, he is not necessarily a runner, but he is creative and adept at extending plays with his legs.

Notre Dame was once thought to be a favorite to land Sayin, but he ultimately committed to Alabama football over conference rivals Georgia and LSU. The quarterback took an official visit to Tuscaloosa the weekend the Tide hosted Mississippi State, and it seems as though the Alabama coaching staff sealed the deal on that visit.

Bryce Young will likely be a first-round draft pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, leaving Alabama football with two returning scholarship quarterbacks on the roster. Jalen Milroe was the no. 13 quarterback in the 2021 class. The 4-star originally committed to Texas before flipping to Alabama. Milroe is now a redshirt freshman, and has already seen significant playing time. Though he is electric as a runner, he is not yet a polished passer. In his Alabama career, Milroe has thrown for 315 yards and six touchdowns with two interceptions, and run for 301 yards (6.8 YPC) and one touchdown.

Ty Simpson, who is currently a true freshman, has only seen spot snaps in garbage time as the third string guy. Simpson was a 5-star recruit and the no. 3 quarterback in the 2022 class. He is not as explosive as Milroe with his legs, yet he is still very effective as a runner. He also has a much higher ceiling as a passer. Milroe and Simpson will likely battle for the starting position in the 2023 season, and will be a redshirt junior and a junior (or redshirt sophomore) when Sayin steps on campus.

Alabama also brings in two quarterbacks in the 2023 class. Eli Holstein and Dylan Lonergan are both 4-star recruits that are similarly rated. Holstein is the no. 8 quarterback in the cycle, with Lonergan not far behind at no. 9. Both will be one year ahead of Julian Sayin in terms of adjusting to Alabama’s offensive system. However, Sayin has a much higher long-term ceiling according to recruiting rankings.

Regardless of how the depth charts shake out, Alabama football appears to be set at the quarterback position for several years to come. He may have to wait his turn like many before him, but 5-star quarterback Julian Sayin is next up.