Five-Star Recruit Shocks College Football World by Rejecting $7.7 Million, Decommits from Kansas State, and Flips Commitment to Ohio Over Notre Dame
In a stunning move that has left college football analysts, coaches, and fans alike speechless, five-star quarterback phenom Tavien St. Clair has flipped his commitment in unprecedented fashion. The 6-foot-5, 215-pound Ohio native decommitted from Kansas State—where he was reportedly in line to secure a historic NIL deal worth $7.7 million—and shocked the world by announcing a new commitment to Ohio University, spurning powerhouse Notre Dame in the process.
The ripple effects of this announcement have been felt nationwide, as questions swirl about his motivations, the future of NIL in college football, and what this means for both Kansas State and Notre Dame. For Ohio University, however, it is a moment of euphoric triumph—arguably the biggest recruiting win in school history.
A Commitment that Defies Convention
St. Clair, widely considered the top dual-threat quarterback in the 2025 class, had long been the subject of intense recruiting battles. Offers from Alabama, Georgia, Texas, USC, and Florida State all poured in before he settled on Kansas State last fall, a decision that turned heads even then. What no one expected was for him to walk away from one of the largest reported NIL packages ever offered to a high school recruit.
And even fewer predicted that he would choose Ohio University, a MAC school that has never before signed a five-star player.
In a heartfelt statement shared via Instagram Live, St. Clair addressed his decision:
“I’m grateful for everything Kansas State and Coach Klieman have done for me. But in the end, I had to follow my heart. This isn’t about money or headlines—it’s about legacy, about leading something special. Ohio believed in me before the stars came. They didn’t treat me like a product. They treated me like family.”
It was a mature, powerful message from a teenager who has suddenly become one of the most intriguing figures in college sports.
The Backstory: How Kansas State Landed Him in the First Place
Kansas State’s recruiting win last year was considered a turning point for the program. Known more for gritty overachievers than blue-chip stars, the Wildcats had never before landed a top-10 recruit nationally. But with St. Clair, they saw an opportunity to change the narrative.
The $7.7 million NIL package reportedly involved multiple Kansas City and Manhattan-area businesses, apparel deals, a podcast series, and a documentary tracking his freshman season. It was a bold, aggressive move from a school trying to compete in a rapidly evolving recruiting ecosystem.
At the time, St. Clair cited trust in the coaching staff, a belief in the Wildcats’ system, and a desire to carve his own path outside the traditional powerhouse pipeline. “Why not win somewhere that’s hungry?” he said in October.
But in recent months, rumblings of dissatisfaction began to surface.
Notre Dame’s Pitch—and the Rejection Heard Around South Bend
As word leaked in March that St. Clair might be reconsidering, Notre Dame emerged as a top contender. The Fighting Irish, fresh off a 10-win season under Marcus Freeman and bolstered by a top-5 recruiting class, offered the perfect blend of national prestige, NFL development, and academic excellence.
Everything pointed to South Bend as the natural landing spot.
According to sources close to the situation, Notre Dame’s NIL package was far more modest—estimated at around $2.5 million over three years—but with substantial national exposure and brand power. The university’s reputation, combined with its media partners and NBC broadcasting deal, made it an attractive stage.
But it wasn’t enough.
“St. Clair told us he wants to build something that hasn’t been done before,” said a Notre Dame recruiting staffer on condition of anonymity. “He’s got this drive to not just be another All-American at a blue blood. He wants to transform a program.”
Why Ohio?
That leads to the question echoing across message boards and sports radio shows everywhere: Why Ohio?
The Bobcats, members of the Mid-American Conference, have had success in spurts over the past two decades, but nothing to suggest they could land a generational talent. They’ve never finished ranked in the AP Top 25, haven’t appeared in a major bowl game, and lack the national visibility of even mid-tier Power Five programs.
But head coach Tim Albin and quarterbacks coach Tyler Tettleton had built a deep connection with St. Clair long before he rose to five-star status. They were the first FBS program to offer him—when he was just a sophomore playing varsity ball at Bellefontaine High School.
That loyalty mattered.
“They saw me when I was just a skinny kid with raw mechanics and a dream,” St. Clair said. “They stayed in touch. They didn’t promise me millions. They promised me a shot to lead a team. That stuck with me.”
Ohio’s plan includes giving St. Clair the keys to the offense from Day One. The Bobcats have also seen recent success with quarterbacks like Kurtis Rourke, who flashed NFL potential before injuries shortened his career. The staff believes St. Clair could elevate the entire program to a new tier.
A New Model in the NIL Era?
The most shocking element of this story isn’t the flip itself, but the rejection of $7.7 million—a number previously unheard of for an incoming college freshman. In an era where high school athletes are increasingly making business decisions, St. Clair is swimming against the current.
“I’m not naive. NIL is important,” he said. “But I don’t want to be bought. I want to earn every dollar.”
Some analysts believe this could signal a coming shift. As the sport grapples with the balance between amateurism and professionalization, recruits like St. Clair may inspire others to think differently.
“This might be the NIL version of when Kevin Durant joined the Warriors—except in reverse,” said ESPN’s Tom Luginbill. “Instead of stacking the deck, St. Clair is building the deck.”
Fallout in Manhattan and South Bend
Kansas State now finds itself scrambling. The Wildcats built much of their 2025 recruiting vision around St. Clair. Losing him leaves a gaping hole in their quarterback room—and in their marketing strategy.
“Heartbreaking,” said one Wildcats assistant. “Not just because he’s a great player, but because we thought we were changing the perception of who Kansas State could be.”
Meanwhile, Notre Dame fans are reeling. The Irish were convinced they were next in line, and with current quarterback Steve Angeli entering his senior year, the door was wide open for St. Clair to compete as a freshman.
On message boards, the reaction has been swift:
“I can live with losing to Bama or Georgia. But Ohio???”
—ND_Football21 on Irish Illustrated
But there’s no bitterness from Marcus Freeman, who issued a classy statement:
“Tavien is a great young man with an incredible future ahead of him. We respect his decision and wish him nothing but success.”
What Comes Next?
For Ohio, the next step is preparation. The Bobcats will likely face immense media attention this summer and fall. Their 2025 home opener against Toledo is already being floated as a possible ESPN College GameDay destination—something once unthinkable for a MAC school.
Season ticket sales are skyrocketing, and social media engagement for Ohio University has quadrupled since the announcement.
St. Clair has already enrolled in summer classes and is expected to participate in offseason workouts.
If he lives up to the hype—and if the Bobcats can build around him—this could become one of the greatest underdog stories in college football history.
For now, he remains focused.
“I’m not here for the cameras,” he told reporters outside Peden Stadium. “I’m here to win. Let’s get to work.”
Final Thoughts
The landscape of college football is changing faster than ever before, but every so often, a story emerges that shakes it to its core. Tavien St. Clair’s decision to turn down generational wealth and reject blue blood prestige for a chance to elevate a humble MAC program will be studied, debated, and remembered for years to come.
It’s a bet on loyalty, legacy, and self-belief in a world obsessed with branding and dollars.
And if he pulls it off, Tavien St. Clair won’t just be a football star. He’ll be a symbol of a movement—a reminder that heart still matters.