As Tavien St. Clair gears up for his second season at Ohio State, he's focusing on the long game rather than quick success.
With Julian Sayin returning as the Buckeyes' starting quarterback, St. Clair is eyeing 2027 as his potential breakout year, assuming Sayin heads to the NFL draft.
The five-star recruit from Bellefontaine is eager to soak up knowledge from head coach Ryan Day, quarterbacks coach Billy Fessler, and the rest of the coaching staff.
“However long it takes, I'm just grateful for the opportunity to be here,” St. Clair shared during Ohio State’s media day before the Cotton Bowl.
“I'm learning a ton from Julian this year. It's about growing and adding to my skill set from Julian's game, Lincoln Kienholz's game, and the insights from Coach Day and Coach Fess.
I'm really excited to learn and grow on this journey.”
When St. Clair joined Ohio State, the plan was clear: Sayin would lead the team in 2025 and 2026, setting the stage for St.
Clair to take over in 2027 after honing his skills. Last season, he served as the third-string quarterback, but with Kienholz transferring to Louisville, St.
Clair is stepping up as the Buckeyes' No. 2 QB in 2026.
This shift puts pressure on St. Clair, who only attempted two passes without completions as a freshman, to be game-ready for 2026.
“Tavien is someone that really has to step up for us,” Ryan Day emphasized on his radio show in January. “He's got to be right there behind Julian and ready to go. You've seen our schedule for next year, and Tavien's got to take the next step.”
Throughout last season, Day noted that St. Clair had a significant learning curve transitioning from Division III high school football to Ohio State's level.
Yet, Day remains confident in St. Clair's potential, ranking him as the No. 7 prospect in the 2025 recruiting class.
“We see the talent. He's big, strong, and can throw it.
This offseason is critical for him,” Day said. “He excelled on the scout team, competing against the top defense daily.
That experience is setting him up for a big spring and preseason.”
St. Clair is steadfast in his belief that Ohio State is the perfect place for his quarterback development.
“It all goes back to why I committed here. I felt the quarterback development was the best in the country,” St.
Clair explained. “If you stick to the process and stay consistent, good things will happen.
It's been exciting to be part of Julian's journey, and I'm looking forward to his growth.”
While St. Clair spent most of his freshman year on the scout team, he's been working hard to earn his teammates' trust and seize every opportunity.
“I want to instill confidence in my teammates and coaches. I feel like I took a step in that direction and I'm ready for whatever opportunity comes,” St. Clair said.
He's been learning the art of decision-making and defensive preparation from observing Sayin, a process that continues into his second year.
“It's about letting the game come to you. You can manipulate defenses and play at a high level with preparation,” St.
Clair noted. “Julian excels in his pre-game prep, understanding the opponents' strategies.
He lets his eyes dictate the ball's path, and he's done a great job with that.”