Ohio State’s Quarterback Battle Heats Up: Assistant Coach’s Surprising Verdict on Tavien St. Clair Amid Transfer Speculation
Ohio State’s quarterback situation is teetering on the edge of chaos. With the 2025 season rapidly approaching, Ryan Day finds himself facing one of the toughest decisions of his career—who will lead the Buckeyes after Will Howard’s departure? The stakes are sky-high, and while Howard’s NFL dreams are no longer Day’s concern, the gaping hole he left behind is now the program’s biggest question mark.
The Buckeyes currently have three contenders in the mix: Julian Sayin, Lincoln Kienholz, and Tavien St. Clair. But will all three make it to opening day, or will transfer rumors become reality? The answer may lie in the words of assistant coach Billy Fessler, who recently weighed in on the competition, giving a particularly eye-opening assessment of St. Clair.
Assistant Coach’s Candid Take on Ohio State’s QB Trio
For now, Ryan Day is keeping things interesting, allowing all three quarterbacks to duke it out for the starting role. But if Fessler’s recent press conference is any indication, some players are getting more love than others.
He began by discussing Lincoln Kienholz, who is now entering his third season with Ohio State and is still looking for his big break. Fessler made it clear that Kienholz has stepped up his game in the offseason, stating:
“A guy that’s going into his third year… Lincoln has definitely stepped up from a leadership perspective. You can see the way he attacks workouts.”
Kienholz, who saw minimal action in 2023, has been grinding hard. But will it be enough?
Then came the talk about Julian Sayin, the former five-star recruit who transferred from Alabama. Sayin was initially expected to challenge Howard for the starting role last season but ultimately fell short. Instead of sulking, Sayin used the opportunity to grow and prepare for his next shot, and Fessler made sure to highlight that.
“He could have turned it down, been bummed out, and not attacked it the right way. But I saw him continue to grow throughout the year. I saw him learn from Will, and now he can step up and be more of a vocal leader.”
Sayin’s raw talent and ability to command the locker room make him a strong contender for the job. But what about Tavien St. Clair, the highly touted freshman who is already in Columbus despite technically still being high school-aged?
Fessler’s comments about St. Clair were both dismissive and intriguing.
“Tavien really should still be in high school,” he said, before quickly backtracking and praising the young QB’s work ethic.
“Instead, he’s in my office all the time learning the offense. When he’s not with me, he’s with Coach Mick (Marotti), and when he’s not with Coach Mick, he’s over there doing academics in SASSO. His days are pretty jam-packed.”
Translation? St. Clair might not be ready yet, but he’s doing everything possible to change that narrative.
Will Ohio State Add a Fourth Quarterback?
While the Buckeyes currently have three quarterbacks vying for the top spot, Fessler admitted that adding a fourth option isn’t off the table.
“That’s still in conversation; we’ll kind of see how it goes. Obviously, three is a little bit less than we typically have.”
Could a surprise transfer shake things up? If so, it might force one of the current quarterbacks out, setting the stage for a high-profile exit.
Lincoln Kienholz: The Odd Man Out?
If there’s one player whose future in Columbus is uncertain, it’s Lincoln Kienholz.
FOX Sports analyst RJ Young has already thrown Kienholz’s name into the transfer portal rumor mill, suggesting that the quarterback may start looking for an opportunity elsewhere if he doesn’t believe he has a real shot at the starting job.
“Lincoln Kienholz could be entering the transfer portal if he doesn’t feel like he’s going to get the shot to be the starter come August,” Young predicted.
And if that happens, there’s no shortage of schools that would welcome him with open arms. Young named Tulane, Tulsa, and Boise State as potential landing spots, even suggesting that Sacramento State could offer Kienholz the stage to truly shine.
“I honestly look at him, and I say, dude, you could probably go torch someone if you just went to Tulane, Tulsa, or Boise State, for that matter. There are places for him to go where he can show out. I don’t know if Ohio State is going to be that place.”
With Sayin seemingly pulling ahead in the competition, Kienholz may have a tough decision to make.
The Favorite to Win the Job?
While the QB battle is still officially wide open, analysts are beginning to believe that the job is Julian Sayin’s to lose.
Blake Ruffino, a well-respected voice in college football analysis, is already convinced that Sayin’s talent sets him apart from the competition.
“If you flip on the tape of all three of these guys, Julian’s going to start. The ball just comes out of his hand so easily. From all the positive murmurs coming out of Ohio State, just the ones we’ve heard about Jeremiah Smith, this feels like a no-brainer.”
Sayin’s smooth mechanics, strong decision-making, and leadership ability have put him in the driver’s seat. And let’s not forget—Nick Saban himself recruited Sayin to Alabama before the QB ultimately transferred to Ohio State. That kind of pedigree doesn’t go unnoticed.
What’s Next?
With spring practices in full swing and the QB competition heating up, Ohio State’s quarterback battle is far from over. Will Sayin cement himself as the starter? Can Kienholz do enough to stay in the mix? Will St. Clair’s rapid development turn heads? Or will an unexpected name enter the fray via the transfer portal?
One thing is certain—this race is about to get even more intense. Buckle up, Buckeye Nation, because the most crucial decision of the offseason is still looming.
