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Scout’s view: Ohio State’s newest commit, 2025 quarterback Tavien St. Clair

michael chen
·4 min read
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Ohio State did not need to go far to find its 2025 quarterback and didn’t have to wait long to get a verbal.

Bellefontaine native, Tavien St. Clair, announced on Wednesday evening that he was committing to the Buckeyes after multiple visits this spring and earning an offer in the process.

It gives Ohio State an early cornerstone piece for the class, one that should be yet another that is extremely highly rated. Typically when a quarterback makes a commitment early, he goes on and recruits others to join him. Expect St. Clair to do exactly that.

He’s a very interesting prospect, one that has seen his stock rise over the last few months. Here is my scout’s view on what to expect from St. Clair after watching his sophomore highlight tape.

Some unknown

Scout’s view

St. Clair blew up early this summer, gaining the Ohio State offer along with Alabama, Michigan, and LSU all in June. The Buckeye coaches wanted to see him throw, which he did multiple times in front of the staff and won them over. St. Clair makes a big physical jump so his tape from last fall doesn’t tell the whole story. I am interested in seeing how he performs during this upcoming season, but can not discount head coach Ryan Day’s selection of a quarterback.

Athletic

Scout’s view

Not a true dual-threat, St. Clair has plenty of athleticism in his game. He is great at scrambling out of the pocket and extending plays. When there isn’t a receiver down-field that’s open, he has the ability to use his legs and gain positive yardage. St. Clair has good hands, he was on the receiving end of a trick play for a score which put a wrinkle into game-planning.

Anticipation

Scout’s view

This is something that many quarterbacks tend to struggle with but St. Clair seems to have a knack for throwing receivers open. It’s a unique skill that typically takes time to develop, but as a sophomore, he did a great job of doing so. It tells me that his football IQ is very high and that’s always a big plus in a quarterback.

Deep ball

Scout’s view

A staple of a Ryan Day-led offense, St. Clair showed no issues with his ability to take the top off defenses. Not only does he have the strength to make those throws, but there is also touch and great loft there as well. St. Clair does a great job using his eyes to keep safeties honest, then beating them to a corner.

Conclusion

Scout’s view

There is so much football for St. Clair before he lands on the Ohio State campus, and as I mentioned earlier, there’s a bit of unknown towards his game. It’s not a bad quality, especially considering the offers he holds. Plenty of players his age would love to have his offer list, so it’s not just the Buckeyes that believe St. Clair can play at this level.

If I had to guess at this very early junction, St. Clair will most likely redshirt during his first season, with the potential of playing a few snaps to get some experience. Lincoln Kienholz and Air Noland will be ahead of him in years and experience, but who knows what kind of player St. Clair will be when finally gets to the Woody Hayes Athletic Facility.

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Story originally appeared on Buckeye Wire