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Quarterback Julian Sayin, a top-ranked 2024 recruit enrolled at Alabama this month, is leaving the Crimson Tide before spring practices begin and entered the transfer portal on Friday, 247Sports reported.

Sayin settled in Tuscaloosa on Jan. 10 with the expectation he would play under head coach Nick Saban. The legendary coach announced his retirement the same day, and Sayin decided to look at other options.

According to a 247Sports report on Friday, the current projection from the recruiting experts is for Sayin to choose Ohio State.

The five-star recruit from Carlsbad, Calif., committed to Alabama on Nov. 22, 2022, and had 25 total offers, including from the Buckeyes, LSU and Texas.

The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Sayin is the top offensive player in ESPN’s Class of 2024 rankings. 247Sports lists him as the No. 3 quarterback and the No. 21 overall player.

Sayin finished his three-year career at Carlsbad High School with 7,824 yards, 85 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He was the MVP of the Elite 11 finals before his senior season.

In 2024, Ohio State’s quarterback depth chart will include transfer Will Howard, formerly of Kansas State, and five-star recruit Air Noland, ranked as the nation’s No. 4 quarterback by the 247Sports composite.

New Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer has lost at least nine players to the transfer portal since he arrived from Washington, including standout wide receiver Isaiah Bond and Caleb Downs, an All-American safety as a freshman.

Quarterback Jalen Milroe, the 2023 starter under Saban, is returning to Alabama this fall and said he’s excited to play in DeBoer’s offense. Quarterback Austin Mack, who redshirted at Washington last season, transferred to Alabama on Thursday to play for his former coach.

–Field Level Media