Tavien St. Clair: Living the Dream at Ohio State, But Can He Deliver?
Tavien St. Clair arrived in Columbus with the weight of expectation on his shoulders. A five-star quarterback with elite arm talent and a relentless work ethic, St. Clair had long envisioned suiting up for Ohio State. Now, after his first few months in the program, he’s embracing the challenge.
“Ohio State is everything I thought it would be,” St. Clair said recently. “The competition, the coaching, the pressure—it’s all pushing me to be better every single day.”
But is St. Clair truly ready for the bright lights of the Horseshoe? That’s where the controversy begins.
Some insiders believe St. Clair has the tools to be the next great Buckeye quarterback, following in the footsteps of C.J. Stroud and Justin Fields. Others, however, question whether he’ll ever get the chance. With Devin Brown and Julian Sayin battling for the starting role, St. Clair may find himself on the outside looking in for years.
Even within the program, whispers suggest that while St. Clair’s potential is undeniable, he may need significant time to develop. His mechanics are crisp, but his decision-making under pressure has been inconsistent in early workouts. A redshirt season seems likely, but in the transfer portal era, will he have the patience to wait his turn?
Meanwhile, Ohio State fans are already divided. Some see him as the future, pointing to his elite performances at Bellefontaine High School. Others believe Ryan Day’s offense is evolving past traditional pocket passers, favoring more mobile quarterbacks like Sayin.
One thing is certain: the expectations haven’t changed. Ohio State doesn’t recruit five-star quarterbacks to sit. St. Clair knows this. He’s aware of the doubters. And in true competitor fashion, he welcomes it.
“I came here to work,” he said. “Nothing is given. I have to earn it. And I will.”
For now, Tavien St. Clair remains Ohio State’s quarterback of the future. Whether he ever becomes its quarterback of the present is a question that only time—and his own development—will answer.
