Tavien St. Clair didn’t throw a single pass as a freshman, but he’s still very much part of the quarterback conversation at Ohio State - even if the depth chart is getting more crowded by the day.
While Julian Sayin lit up the field for 3,610 yards last season, St. Clair watched from the sideline, waiting for an opportunity that hasn't come yet.
And with the recent addition of Justyn Martin through the transfer portal, that wait just got a little longer.
St. Clair’s mindset, though, might be best summed up by a single word he posted on Instagram: “Uno.”
That was his caption as he shared a highlight reel of wide receiver Brandon Inniss, who wears No. 1 and just announced he’s coming back for his senior season. Inniss’ return is big for Ohio State - especially after Carnell Tate declared for the NFL Draft - and the timing of St.
Clair’s post feels intentional. It’s a subtle signal that he’s still locked in, still paying attention, still part of the fight.
But the battle for the backup job just got tougher. Martin, who arrives in Columbus by way of Maryland and UCLA, is already considered the frontrunner for the No. 2 spot behind Sayin - and spring practice hasn’t even started.
That’s a tough pill to swallow for St. Clair, who was hoping to finally get some meaningful reps after Lincoln Kienholz entered the portal.
Ryan Day has made it clear he sees something in St. Clair’s arm.
Back in December, St. Clair shared that Day often picks him to throw deep balls during practice sessions.
“He always has me come with him to throw the deep balls to the receivers because he’s like, ‘You can put it out there to wherever I want you to put it,’” St. Clair said.
That’s not nothing. It’s a sign of trust - but trust doesn’t always translate to playing time, especially in a program that’s clearly prioritizing experience and immediate impact.
And that’s where things get tricky. If St.
Clair can’t beat out Martin for the backup job this spring, the transfer portal might start to look like his best shot at seeing the field. It’s a hard truth in today’s college football landscape: talent alone isn’t enough.
Timing, opportunity, and roster movement can shape a career just as much as arm strength or football IQ.
Meanwhile, Inniss’ return signals that Ohio State isn’t slowing down. After a 2025 season where he posted 36 catches, 271 yards, and three touchdowns, the veteran wideout said he’s got “business to handle.”
He’ll form a dangerous duo with Jeremiah Smith, giving Sayin two top-tier targets heading into 2026. Sayin, for his part, is coming off a stellar campaign - completing 77% of his passes, throwing 32 touchdowns, and earning a 90.8 quarterback impact grade, good for fourth in the nation.
He’s widely expected to make the leap to the NFL after next season.
That was supposed to be St. Clair’s window - the post-Sayin era.
But if he’s stuck behind Martin again in 2026, that plan may no longer hold water. Ohio State’s clearly in win-now mode, and Inniss returning as a two-time captain only reinforces that.
This isn’t a program that’s waiting around to develop backups. It’s a program chasing championships.
As for St. Clair, he’s still one of the most talented quarterback prospects to come out of Ohio in recent years.
But in Ryan Day’s system - where the expectations are sky-high and the competition never stops - talent has to meet opportunity at just the right moment. And right now, that moment feels like it’s slipping further out of reach.