Air Noland Makes It Official, Commits To Ohio State
College football fans must always monitor the quarterback market, even if their favorite school isn't landing a top passer that day. Tennessee already has 2024 quarterback commit Jake Merklinger, and sources indicate they are content rolling with him as their 2024 guy.
However, many Tennessee rivals are invested in 2024 quarterback Air Noland. He was one of the top uncommitted players but ended his recruitment on Saturday evening, picking the Ohio State Buckeyes over a litany of other schools. He felt comfortable in Columbus and has seen what their offense can do for top-tier signal callers.
That means Texas A&M, Alabama, Clemson, and Arkansas are still searching for a 2024 quarterback. Furthermore, Georgia can't fall back and land the state's No. 1 passer if things with blue-chiper Dylan Raiola and current quarterback commit Ryan Puglisi were to go sour. While all these factors are encouraging, there's another truth: if Tennessee wants to reach its future goals, it will likely face Ohio State. The Buckeyes are always strong, but they got much stronger by adding Noland to their class.
Prospect: Air Noland
Projected Position: Quarterback
Vitals: 6-3 and 195 pounds
School: Langston Hughes High School (Fairburn, Georgia)
Frame: Excellent foundational base entering his senior season of high school. Noland's weight is evenly distributed, and he carries a lot of muscle mass in his lower body. After some time in a college weight room, Noland should be comfortably accruing hits from college defenders.
Athleticism: A very comfortable, fluid athlete. Noland isn't going to be Justin Fields or Cam Newton, but he doesn't want to be. He wins from within the pocket but has the athleticism to create out-of-structure. Has an athletic, loose base that allows him to generate torque easily on the move.
Instincts: Has strong situational awareness; led Langston Hughes to a 15-0 record and their first state championship as a junior. Managed the clock and situations in high-pressure moments, knowing when and how to make the correct play.
Polish: Noland is one of the most cerebral passers in the class. Langston Hughes ran a complex system that put a lot on him in pre-snap and post-snap; he's been getting into run checks and reading defenses since he was a freshman. Noland should be fine walking into a college offense and quickly picking up the terminology.
Bottom Line: One of the best 2024 passers is off the board. Many schools had him as their No. 2 uncommitted quarterback behind Raiola. With Noland off to Ohio State, it sends many major programs into a frenzy, hoping to find a quality 2024 quarterback.
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