'He's gonna be a Heisman winner,' 'He's an animal': What we heard about the 2026 Buckeyes at the NFL Combine

A collection of thoughts from former Buckeyes at the NFL Combine on the players who replace them at Ohio State this year.

Ohio State linebacker Riley Pettijohn returns a fumble during last season’s game against Grambling State. (Photo courtesy of OSU athletics)

INDIANAPOLIS — The NFL Scouting Combine can be as much about Ohio State’s future as it is the program’s recent past.

A typically large group of former Buckeyes descends upon the Indiana Convention Center for the biggest job interview of their lives, and somewhere along the way, they are inevitably asked about the guys who will replace them in Columbus. The cycle repeats itself every year and presents one of the first opportunities to gain some insight into the coming college football season.

Below is a collection of what we heard about the 2026 Buckeyes from the 11 former Ohio State players at this year’s combine.

On QB Julian Sayin

Sayin was a Heisman Trophy finalist in his first season starting in Columbus, following in the footsteps of predecessors like C.J. Stroud, Justin Fields and Dwayne Haskins. His year didn’t finish on a high note, but the baseline he laid down in 2025 should position him to be one of the top quarterbacks in the sport again in 2026.

“Julian is gonna be special,” tight end Max Klare said. “He’s an extremely accurate thrower of the football, and he throws a catchable ball. That’s something you want as a receiver. I think the sky is the limit with him. He’s extremely cerebral, and he’s gonna continue to develop that knowledge of the game.”

Sayin led the country in completion percentage, finished second in passing efficiency, fourth in touchdowns, sixth in yards per attempt and 10th in total yards.

“Playing with Julian was a blessing,” receiver Carnell Tate said. “The man is crazy accurate and crazy smart. He’s able to put the ball where no other quarterback can put it.”