Ohio State names Sayin, Jeremiah Smith and Jaylen McClain as its Big Ten media day representatives

Ohio State will send three players to represent the program at the Big Ten’s annual media days in Chicago this summer, with head coach Ryan Day selecting a quarterback, a wide receiver and a defensive safety for the spotlight. The group was announced through Big Ten media day representation, with the Buckeyes naming Julian Sayin, Jeremiah Smith and Jaylen McClain as their representatives.

The quarterback choice, Julian Sayin, places Ohio State’s most central on-field identity at the front of the conversation. In the structure of media days, the quarterback is typically the focal point for questions about offensive rhythm, scheme and what the team is building toward as the season approaches. Ohio State’s decision to lead with Sayin indicates that the program intends to anchor its messaging on the passing game and the quarterback position.

Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State’s wide receiver, gives the Buckeyes an offensive voice from the perimeter. At media days, a top receiver often serves as a proxy for how the offense plans to create separation and move the ball vertically. Smith’s selection indicates Ohio State’s intent to emphasize its passing targets and playmaking variety, rather than presenting offense in a one-dimensional way.

Defensively, Jaylen McClain represents the safety spot, which is frequently tied to communication and coverage responsibilities. A safety’s role is broad, spanning the back end of pass coverage and run support, and those are the areas media members often press for when trying to understand a defense’s outlook. By choosing McClain, Ohio State balanced its three-man group so that neither side of the ball is absent from its public narrative.

The Big Ten’s media day format also matters for how conference-level storylines get framed. With all teams selecting a set number of player representatives, programs effectively curate which perspectives will be most visible to reporters. For Ohio State, the combined pick of Sayin, Smith and McClain suggests an effort to present a complete team identity across offense and defense, with special attention to the quarterback and the receiver positions on the offensive side and to the defensive backfield on defense.

There is no single way to read who gets chosen at media days, but selection patterns can reflect priorities. Ohio State’s three representatives mirror common program messaging goals: show confidence in the quarterback unit, highlight playmaking at receiver, and demonstrate that the secondary is prepared to communicate and adjust. As the summer moves toward fall camp, fans will look for whether those themes align with how the offense and defense actually take shape.