COLUMBUS, Ohio — Two Ohio State football commits were named finalists for Ohio Mr. Football on Wednesday.
The award, determined by statewide panels all across Ohio, will be announced on Dec. 5 in Canton before the state of the state championship games. The honor has been given since 1987.
Tavien St. Clair, Bellefontaine’s quarterback and a five-star prospect, finished his senior season with 2,536 yards passing and 29 touchdowns. He is the top-rated offensive prospect in Ohio State’s 2025 recruiting class.
Ontario quarterback Bodpegn Miller is the other of Ohio State’s finalist, as he passed for 2,216 yards with 20 touchdowns and added 1,988 yards rushing and 21 scores. He was also the team’s kicker and punter, and played sparingly on defense. He is set to play wide receiver at Ohio State when he comes to campus.
The last winner to attend Ohio State was Cade Stover, a former strong safety and linebacker, from Lexington in 2018.
Since the award began in 1987, Ohio State has had winners in: Zaneville’s Buster Howe (1987), Euclid’s Robert Smith (1988, 1989), St. Henry’s Bobby Hoying (1990), Westerville South’s Andy Katzenmoyer (1995), Grove City’s Derek Combs (1996), Bedford St. Peter Chanel’s Bam Childress (1999), Warren G. Harding’s Maurice Clarett (2001), Piqua’s Brandon Saine (2006), St. Vincent-St. Mary’s Dante Booker Jr. (2013), Athens’ Joe Burrow (2014).
Former Ohio State running back suffers injury
Former Ohio State running back J.K. Dobbins suffered a sprained MCL during the team’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football this week, and will be evaluated on a week-to-week basis moving forward.
Dobbins is having a stellar bounce back season, and has rushed for 766 yards on 158 carries with eight touchdowns this season for the Chargers. He’s on pace for the most rushing yards of his NFL career. Dobbins, due to injury, has played just nine games since his rookie season in 2020.
Ironically, Dobbins is playing for former Michigan coach John Harbaugh in the NFL. But the former Buckeye and Wolverine have made for a nice tandem this season.
Key dates
- The Game 2024: 2 days, Nov. 30
- Early Signing Period: 6 days, Dec. 4-6
- Big Ten Championship Game: 9 days, Dec. 7
- Winter Transfer Portal window opens: 11 days, Dec. 9
- National Championship Game: 53 days, Jan. 20, 2025