Ohio State Buckeyes has a QB1 situation brewing, and the battle is shaping up to be as fierce as ever. With Will Howard departing after delivering a national championship to Columbus, Ryan Day is now looking ahead to his next signal-caller. Five-star freshman Tavien St. Clair is waiting in the wings, while Alabama transfer Julian Sayin — another five-star talent — both already getting comparisons to NFL arms. Both have the tools to lead the Bucks, but if you listen to the buzz coming out of the locker room, it seems like Sayin is stealing the early spotlight. St. Clair may be the crown jewel of the 2025 class, but some within the program aren’t even mentioning his name when discussing the future of Ohio State’s offense.

With many people ready to get on the Sayin hype train – last week we saw Chris Hummer of CBS Sports predict the former five-star will be a breakout superstar in 2025. Pronto, add the Bucks CB Denzel Burke to that list of people who believe the same. Burke, who is in Indy for the NFL Combine, made his stance clear when asked about the Buckeyes’ quarterbacks. While he acknowledged Lincoln Kienholz, he didn’t hold back when hyping up Sayin. The message, however, was clear — Sayin has already impressed by limited action, and the team has taken notice. That’s where things get interesting. While Sayin is soaking up the praise, RJ Young of FOX Sports on his Number One College Football Show pointed out what wasn’t being said.

“Tavien St. Clair… that was the other part I kind of clocked here,” Young noted. “Nobody mentioned Tavien St. Clair.” That silence speaks volumes. While Buckeye fans still believe the Bellefontaine HS product has a shot at taking the reins in 2025, Young suggested that the new offensive staff may not be eager to put that much responsibility on a true freshman. With Brian Hartline stepping into his first full season as offensive coordinator, Billy Fessler taking over the quarterbacks, and Tyler Bowen revamping the offensive line, the Buckeyes may opt for stability over raw upside. That could mean giving Sayin the first crack at the job, regardless of Tavien St. Clair’s long-term potential.

Burke’s endorsement of Sayin wasn’t just a passing comment — it was a clear indication of how the team is viewing the competition. Although, it raised questions about where St. Clair fits into the conversation. A five-star recruit himself, St. Clair, isn’t just a promising prospect; he’s built like an NFL quarterback already. At 6’4″, he threw for 2,536 yards and 29 touchdowns in 11 games last season, showcasing a blend of arm strength and field vision that made him a top-tier recruit. But right now, it seems like he’s on the outside looking in.

The veteran corner said it took only a few practices to see something special in Julian Sayin, noting how polished he looked from the jump. That kind of immediate recognition isn’t common, especially for a player who just arrived in Columbus. “Julian Sayin is that guy,” Burke said, emphasizing the former Alabama QB’s natural talent. He went on to praise Sayin’s quick release and the way the ball zips out of his hand, hinting at a level of polish rarely seen in young quarterbacks. Burke even flirted with a C.J. Stroud comparison but stopped short, saying he didn’t want to put that kind of pressure on the young passer.

The Buckeyes have had freshmen win jobs before, and St. Clair is talented enough to push Sayin if given the chance. Of course, the spring game will ultimately dictate how this battle shakes out. Sayin may be getting the love now, but St. Clair has plenty of time to make his case. His physical tools alone give him an edge in some areas, and if he can pick up the offense quickly, he could turn this into a real competition.

Because just like his former Bama competitor got comparisons to NFL players, St. Clair got one too…

The next Justin Fields? Ohio State QB Tavien St. Clair turning heads

Ohio State knew about Tavien St. Clair long before the hype started rolling in. The Buckeyes extended an offer on May 24, 2023, and it didn’t take long for the Ohio native to commit, making it official just one month later. Fast forward a few months into his time in Columbus, and St. Clair is already making waves within the program.

The buzz isn’t just local, either. Rivals.com and 247Sports.com have drawn comparisons between St. Clair and former Buckeye Justin Fields, a guy who torched the Big Ten on his way to two Offensive Player of the Year awards and an All-American nod in 2019. That’s a tough name to live up to, but St. Clair is proving he might just be worth the hype.

Pete Nakos of On3.com highlighted St. Clair as one of the true freshmen already generating serious buzz this offseason. One Ohio State official took it a step further, saying the young QB actually has one advantage over Fields: “We’ve heard a lot of the Justin Fields comparison before Tavien got here and once he got here. I think he can spin it a little better, but physically he has similar traits.”

A big-time name, a big-time arm, and now?