Julian Sayin National Freshman of the Week

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Julian Sayin has now earned eight national player of the week honors with the news today that he has been named the Shaun Alexander Freshman Player of the Week for his efforts in Ohio State’s 11th consecutive victory, a 34-0 win over Wisconsin Saturday in Madison.

Sayin, the red-shirt freshman from Carlsbad, Calif., threw for a career-high 393 yards and a career-high tying four touchdowns against the Badgers. He was previously named this week’s Big Ten Conference Offensive Player of the Week and its Freshman of the Week.

In seven games this season Sayin has earned:

• Three Big Ten freshman of the week honors (after the Grambling, Minnesota and Wisconsin games);
• One Big Ten offensive player of the week honor (Wisconsin);
• One Shaun Alexander freshman player of the week honor (Wisconsin); and   
• Three Davey O’Brien Award Great 8 honors (Grambling, Minnesota and Wisconsin).

Sayin is completing 80 percent of his passes this season (156 of 193) with 19 touchdowns and only three interceptions. He has four 300-yard games, including a high of 393 vs. Wisconsin, and has connected with Jeremiah Smith (49-602-7) and Carnell Tate (34-587-6) a combined 83 times for 1,189 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Sayin leads the nation with his 80 percent completion percentage, and he is No. 2 in QB rating (189.7) and No. 4 in TD passes (19) while emerging as a leading candidate for every major national award, including the Heisman Trophy, while directing the No. 1 Buckeyes.

Ohio State, 7-0 overall and 4-0 in the Big Ten, is off this week before hosting Penn State at Ohio Stadium on Nov. 1. Game time is set for 12 noon with FOX broadcasting to a national audience.