After years of ‘close but not quite,’ Ryan Day finally broke through and delivered a national championship in 2024, ending a decade-long drought for the program. That run was phenomenal—four playoff wins in just 31 days, knocking off Tennessee, Oregon, Texas, and Notre Dame. Yes, the national championship helped to alleviate some of the pressure, but the four-game skid to Michigan lingers over Day’s head like a cloud of doom. Making matters worse, Ohio State must replace a ton of NFL talent—quarterback Will Howard, top running backs, receivers, and a handful of defensive stars are all gone.
The Buckeyes are going to have a huge quarterback battle this offseason, with former five-star Julian Sayin and junior Lincoln Kienholz competing for the position. And there’s another name in the mix that has fans excited: 2025 commit Tavien St. Clair. This young lad is the epitome of next up in Columbus. He’s a five-star quarterback out of Bellefontaine, Ohio. He has a record of 2,536 yards and 29 touchdowns in 11 games as a senior. Now, this is where things come alive—because Tavien St. Clair isn’t patiently waiting in line for his turn. He’s making himself known, and he’s not afraid to ruffle a few feathers along the way.
Recently, St. Clair put something up on his Instagram story that captured Buckeye Nation’s attention. In the story, St. Clair with a quiet but mysterious message: “You might start off as the underdog, but with faith, perseverance, and determination, you can emerge as a champion. If you could see what’s coming, you wouldn’t stress about what’s happening.” From what it seemed, it was Clair receiving a motivational push. The text felt like a locker room speech. It further read, “Every blessing assigned to you is coming. Just keep believing and keep trusting God! Nothing can stop God’s plan for your life. It’s just that simple. Isaiah 12:2: ‘Yes, indeed- God is my salvation. I trust I won’t be afraid. God – yes, God! – is my strength and song, best of all, my salvation!’ #KeepDaFaith”
The timing of the post was particularly interesting. It was uploaded after Ryan Day doubled down on his ‘two-horse race’ statement, declaring the fight for starting quarterback to be between Sayin and Kienholz currently. But St. Clair’s ability is undeniable, and it is only a matter of time before he gets his chance.
St. Clair’s message reminds Sayin, who was widely considered the leader after a good spring game showing, that there are no certainties in Columbus. The Buckeyes’ quarterback situation is full of talent, and St. Clair’s confidence and desire to shake up the status quo is just what Ryan Day hopes to see. Day has long maintained that he wants his quarterbacks to compete, push one another, and never get too comfortable.
Ryan Day’s QB puzzle contains more pieces than ever?
Just when you’re convinced things can’t get more packed or competitive, Ohio State comes along and makes another splashy hire. Welcome, Eli Brickhandler, the newest Buckeye quarterback, whose arrival is already making waves on and off the field. A Houston Christian transfer (by way of North Carolina A&T), and he’s adding some serious dual-threat mojo to the Buckeyes’ already stacked quarterback corps. If you caught yourself thinking, ‘Wait, another quarterback?’ you’re not alone.
But what got Buckeye Nation abuzz wasn’t merely the football fit—it was his family’s loving response. Eli’s wife, Sean Kelly Brickhandler, delivered the good news on Instagram with a five-word post to Ryan Day. She wrote, “Congrats, baby, Ohio is home.” It’s the sort of good ol’ boy content that makes you want to cheer for the dude before he even takes a snap at the Horseshoe.
What does this do to the Buckeyes? For one, it’s another indication that Ryan Day is competition-oriented. He’s not giving keys to anyone at this point. Following spring practice, Day made it obvious that the competition is wide open. It’s no news that Lincoln Kienholz and Julian Sayin are competing neck-to-neck. Now with St. Clair holding in reserve, and now Brickhandler brings a wildcard factor into play, only the most deserving QB gets locked in.
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