CHICAGO — Everybody around the Ohio State football program has seen a different look from quarterback Julian Sayin this year.It’s not just about the extra muscle he’s put on, but the intensity and toughness he has shown during offseason weight workouts and in spring practice.He’s impressed so many people that strength and conditioning coach Mickey Marotti told superstar wide receiver Jeremiah Smith he thought Sayin was the toughest player in the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.“I said, really? Makes sense,” Smith said. “He was dealing with an ankle thing and still going out there. Julian is very tough.”While he may be one of the most divisive quarterbacks in the country in the eyes of scouts and opposing coaches (at least among QBs in our top tiers), inside the football facility he’s been praised by his teammates and coaches.“When you look at his eyes now, you see a different person,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. “He’s found his voice even more. … He’s poised for a big season.”College QB Tiers: Which quarterback has the highest ceiling?Antonio Morales and Sam Khan Jr.That’s the trajectory Day would hope for his second-year starting quarterback. Sayin, who transferred from Alabama in the winter of 2024 after Nick Saban retired, is just the third second-year starting quarterback since Day took over.The eighth-year head coach said the biggest difference between Justin Fields and C.J. Stroud from year one to year two was the heightened sense of urgency to win games.“You can quickly get distracted from what really matters,” Day said, “but I think when you come back for that second year, all you want to do is win.”He sees that in Sayin, who was a Heisman Trophy finalist and led the FBS in completion percentage in his first season as a starter.“I see that same look in Julian,” Day said. “When you’re into that year and experienced more, all you’re about is winning and that’s what he’s got to be focused on. The other thing is you’ve experienced the ups and downs, so you won’t ride the emotional roller coaster you might have as a young player.”What makes this loaded WR corps differentThe two-time All-American Smith stole the spotlight at Big Ten media days, but he took every chance he could to brag about Ohio State’s other receivers, saying it’s the deepest unit he’s been part of at Ohio State.Smith will be the obvious leader, but returning starter Brandon Inniss, five-star freshman Chris Henry and transfers Devin McCuin (UTSA) and Kyle Parker (LSU) will fill important roles. So who will play, and in what situations?There’s a feeling among the Ohio State staff that it has a wide receiver group that can not only catch the ball consistently, but also play multiple positions. That’s important for an offense that lacked creativity last season, especially in the red zone.Sayin said he loves having a variety of options at receiver because of the impact it can have on defenses.“I think it’s helpful when you are able to sub receivers in and out and keep guys fresh. It’s hard on a defense because they are rarely subbing corners a bunch,” Sayin said. “To be able to have guys who are really talented out there — and we have a bunch of them — it’s what you want as a quarterback.”The key for that group won’t just be catching the ball or scoring touchdowns. One of the major focuses for new receivers coach Cortez Hankton has been on yards after the catch. It’s been a point of emphasis for Smith, who was ranked 249th out of 359 receivers (min. 25 catches) with an average of 4.3 yards per reception after the catch, according to TruMedia.“That’s something (Hankton) did a lot at LSU, making guys miss a lot, so that’s something we have to add to our plate,” Smith said.Last season, 37.9 percent of Ohio State’s yards among wide receivers came after the catch, the 75th highest rate.Regardless, Ohio State is yet again extremely high on its receiving corps despite the departure of position coach Brian Hartline. The Buckeyes aren’t new to elite talent — they’ve produced six first-round picks in the past five years, after all — but the versatility and depth of game-ready talent still stands out.“We have a lot of guys who can play many positions and do many different things,” Smith said. “So it’s going to be special to see.”Will Ohio State push the tempo more?Ohio State had one of the slowest offensive paces in the country last season, averaging just 31.6 seconds per play — the 133rd fastest rate in college football, per TruMedia.The Buckeyes aren’t going to suddenly become a high-tempo team, especially with new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith bringing in some under-center formations. But could Ohio State move faster? There’s a chance.Sayin looked comfortable, in spurts, when the offense did move with tempo, most notably against Miami when he completed 7-of-10 passes for 57 yards in one drive before Ohio State missed a field goal before halftime.Day said if Ohio State does choose to increase the tempo, he’s confident Sayin and the offense can handle it, but the Buckeyes won’t go up-tempo just to do it.“We have to find the right balance,” Day said. “Some teams, they live in tempo and all the different things that come with that. For us, we want to have the ability to do both, so we have to figure out what’s right in the moment and utilize it when appropriate.”