Air Noland decides on Ohio State future after Julian Sayin commitment: report
Air Noland was one of the highlights of Ohio State's 2024 recruiting class after the five-star quarterback committed to Ryan Day and the Buckeyes. But the surprise addition of five-star Alabama transfer Julian Sayin to the depth chart has aroused some speculation that Noland may be bound for the transfer portal eventually.
Right now, it doesn't sound like his commitment to Ohio State is going anywhere.
"We're excited to have him a part of the brotherhood," Noland told The Columbus Dispatch after news of Sayin committing to Ohio State. "He will definitely make the QB room better than what it is now."
So, can we expect that Noland will stay with the Buckeyes? On3 Sports transfer portal analyst Pete Nakos recently speculated that the quarterback will embrace the competition.
"I definitely think that Air Noland strikes me as the kind of guy who is going to stay in Columbus and fight for that job next to Julian Sayin," he said. "We'll see how everything kind of falls after that."
It's not often that a college football program can sign two five-star quarterbacks in the same offseason, but now, with the advent of the transfer portal and NIL rules, it's also unlikely to keep them both on the roster for too long should another opportunity come available or another school express interest.
But the Buckeyes' current quarterback situation could incentivize both Noland and Sayin to stay with the school at least through this season and into next spring.
Veteran transfer Will Howard is Ohio State's presumptive starting quarterback in 2024, and Lincoln Kienholz and Devin Brown sit behind him on the depth chart.
And if things go according to plan, Noland and Sayin could compete with one another for the QB1 role for when the 2025 season kicks off.
Noland was the No. 5 quarterback in the 2024 recruiting class and the No. 41 overall prospect when taking the average of all the major recruiting services.
(Dispatch)
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