Ryan Day slotted Tavien St. Clair as the clear No. 3 QB, sitting behind Julian Sayin and Lincoln Kienholz. Coming from Bellefontaine, he rolled into Ohio State as one of the 2025 class’s brightest stars and a true five-star prospect. But his time was anything but near. But this wasn’t a setback for Tavien; it was a masterclass in patience and growth. Instead of banging heads with the starters, he quietly embraced the role of learner and teammate. “I’m competing with myself,” St. Clair said. “I’m trying to get better every day, be who I can be for this team, wherever that’s needed.”

But as the Washington game edges closer, Tavien’s focus isn’t really meeting the crucial demands of his scout QB role. The mental reps and laser-sharp attention he once showed have faced some cracks under the pressure of the approaching matchup. This shift forced Ryan Day to sacrifice one of his offensive weapons to shore up the scout QB role. That weapon turned out to be freshman wide receiver Phillip Bell. “Ryan Day said Phillip Bell took some scout-team QB reps this week because he could simulate Demond Williams Jr.’s quickness better than the scout-team QBs,” OSU writer Dan Hope writes on X. “Lincoln Kienholz isn’t on the scout team anymore since he’s the No. 2 QB. [So] Tavien St. Clair typically leads the scout team.”

Williams Jr. is a dual-threat quarterback. He has been lighting it up early in the 2025 season. Demond completed 73.5% of his passes for 773 yards and six touchdowns without throwing any interceptions so far. But it’s not the number that’s making the Buckeyes fear; it’s his quickness and acceleration that make him a nightmare for defenses.

St. Clair tried to mirror Williams Jr.’s quickness but couldn’t keep up, so Bell stepped in. At 6-2 and 195 pounds, Bell is a savvy route runner with excellent ball skills and body control that allows him to catch contested passes. His high school stats actually reflect Day’s trust in him. He had 129 catches for 1820 yards and a total of 32 TDs over two years at Christian Brothers-Sacramento.

But then let’s discuss the numbers that led him to copy Demond’s style in the first place. During his freshman year, he completed a 100-meter dash in 11.83 seconds. And a 200 sprint? 24.74 seconds. The position change took place because St.Clair was lagging in the running phase. Bell also showed he could put in work against Ohio State’s own defense, which was no small feat with Matt Patricia’s aggressive schemes. LB Sonny Styles has made some comments saying that Bell has given Ohio State’s defense a “great look,” describing Bell as “super quick.”

Why the fear over Demond Williams Jr.?

Ryan Day isn’t really playing around ahead of the Buckeyes’ clash with the Huskies. The popular take? Demond Williams Jr. is a quarterback to be reckoned with. “He’s lightning in a bottle,” Day said on X. “He’s like Kyler Murray.” That’s high praise considering Day’s deep study of Washington’s offense and his emphasis on how challenging Williams Jr. can be. Demond has been lighting up the Huskies’ offense all season.

He’s the kind of dual-threat QB that keeps defenses on their toes. Now you know what struck Day and Matt Patricia. It’s how much of a complete athlete Williams Jr. is. Patricia’s defense has been holding opponents to a low average of 7 points per game. But Day fears Demond’s strong arm, speed, and sharp decision-making. It is a clear warning that Ohio State’s defense must have a detailed game plan to neutralize him.

Day’s comparison to Kyler Murray carries weight because Murray was known for making plays off-script. Day’s son, RJ, even reminded him of Williams’ prior performances against top-tier defenses and players like Dylan Raiola. That history adds a layer of credibility and concern. Past teams, like Oregon and Louisville, used consistent pressure to sack him multiple times. But Williams Jr. excels at scrambling into open spaces, turning broken plays into big gains.

Now that’s a major concern for the OSU’s defense, which is ranked sixth nationally in pass defense.