Scholarship offer number 20 came for Bellefontaine star quarterback Tavien St. Clair on Wednesday. And it was one he had been eagerly waiting on.
After going through a meticulous recruitment process of St. Clair, the home-state Buckeyes threw their hat in the ring for the talented signal caller.
“It came as a total surprise,” said St. Clair on Wednesday night. “(OSU quarterbacks coach Corey Dennis) came and saw me work out again, and I thought it would just be the same as the other times, he would get some video and then get back with Coach (Ryan) Day.”
But this time Dennis had a different message for St. Clair.
While discussing the high ceiling the Buckeye staff sees in the Chieftain quarterback,
Dennis informed the junior-to-be that he now has a scholarship offer on the table from the Scarlet and Gray.
The OSU offer joins a rapidly growing list that also includes college football heavyweights like Tennessee, Florida and Penn State.
St. Clair had to wait patiently for the Buckeyes to submit their offer, which was at first a little tough to swallow.
“I’ll be honest, it was a little frustrating initially because these other great programs were offering me, and it was like ‘what are they seeing in me that Ohio State isn’t?’ But now I completely understand the reason behind it.”
Day and Dennis have been extremely stingy in handing out offers to prep quarterbacks.
While Findlay standout Ryan Montgomery, who has a brother at Ohio State, and top-rated 2025 passer Bryce Underwood of Michigan had been previously offered by the Buckeyes, they have not seriously pursued other QB targets in the class until St. Clair’s offer came on Wednesday.
“Really, it’s pretty surreal,” said St. Clair of his OSU offer. “Growing up in Ohio, guys dream about playing for Ohio State. To be in this position, to be recruited by so many great programs, is something my family and I are very grateful for.”
St. Clair has visited Ohio State twice this spring and he said he plans to do a camp with the Buckeyes as well as participating in a 7-on-7 with his BHS squad in Columbus this summer.
As far as a timeline for a decision, St. Clair has discussed it with his family and has a pretty good feel for when he would like to make his college choice.
“I am hoping about this time next spring,” he said.
In the meantime, he plans to plow ahead in getting acquainted with the throng of college coaches who have come calling.
“I am going to visit as many places possible so I can make sure I am making the right decision,” he said.
In two seasons for the Chieftains, St. Clair has already amassed some impressive numbers.
After throwing for 1,722 yards and 13 touchdowns as a freshman, he earned Division III second-team all-Ohio honors as a sophomore last fall, when he completed 71 percent of his passes for 2,453 yards and 25 touchdowns. He was picked off just four times.