4-star QB Air Noland gives Ohio State someone who 'carries himself like a pro'

Fairburn (Ga.) Langston Hughes four-star quarterback Air Noland had his pick of colleges, with the likes of Clemson, Alabama, Texas A&M, Miami and Ohio State all in pursuit of him over the past year.

But the No. 45 overall prospect in the 2024 On300 rankings knew what he wanted at the next level, and that was a chance to be coached by some of the country’s best developers and play alongside future pros. He felt that opportunity was at Ohio State, and on Saturday he announced for Ryan Day and the Buckeyes.

“He chose Ohio State because they’re winners,” Boone Williams, his head coach at Langston Hughes, told On3. “Every year, they’re at the top. They’re like-minded individuals. Coach Corey Dennis did a great job recruiting him and being completely honest and real with him.

… [His former teammate] Jelani Thurman is already up there to give him the true inside thought on what it’s actually like to be a player at Ohio State. The quarterback situation there, he’s going to have the opportunity to get on the field by his sophomore year, maybe even as a freshman if they blow some people out.”

Noland joins a loaded recruiting class for the Buckeyes

Playing for Day and Dennis, two of the premier offensive minds in the country, was a major selling point for Noland as he considered his decision. He wanted to be challenged, and also to be surrounded by some of the best players in college football. The Buckeyes are recruiting running backs and receivers at an elite level under Tony Alford and Brian Hartline, and they’re developing them into future pros.

That’s what Noland sees himself as and wants to be around day in and day out.

“Air, he carries himself like a pro,” Williams said. “We always talk about championship behavior, and he has that on and off the field every day he wakes up. He is a guy who is very in-tune with playing the game of football and me personally, I think he should be ranked higher than he is. In three years, he has 104 touchdowns and 16 interceptions and four losses. He does everything the right way.”

As a three-year starter, Noland has led Langston Hughes to one state title and nearly to a second, amassing a 39-4 record in the process. His desire to win is second-to-none, his coach says.

“He’s a winner; I don’t think in his life that he has lost more than 10 games,” Williams added. “Ultimately, you’re getting a competitor, a winner who is going to find a way to be better. He understands everything is about taking it to the next level. It’s all about maturation — every time you’re on the field you want to be one percent better. That’s something we talk about, and he never makes the same mistake twice.”

Leader on and off the field

Noland’s talent is apparent on the field, given the gaudy numbers he has put up at one of Georgia’s top programs against some of the nation’s best high school competition.

“The football IQ, the ball placement and accuracy, the arm strength — he can make every throw on the field,” Williams said. “He is on time with throws and understands the defense. He understands and a 4i, a 2i, a shade technique, a 0, 5 and 7. Most quarterbacks don’t know that, and he comes over to the sideline talking about that how we can use that in the run game in our plays. He does all the little things, and his understanding on the field in second-to-none.”

But what separates him is the preparation he puts into the game and the way he carries himself off the field. Williams tells the story of being in the midst of Hughes’ pregame meal before its final game last season against Rome (Georgia).

Coaches from Ohio State, Miami and Texas A&M were at the team’s pregame meal. And one of the Hurricanes’ staffers noticed Noland sitting by himself going over his notebook. “That’s a guy I want on my team,” the coach said to the room. Everyone’s attention turned to Noland, who was too focused on his work to notice the recognition.

He’s a leader, and if you pay attention he always has notebook with him,” Williams said. “Preparation is key, and he gets that. … He’s an easy kid. We always talk about not being a roller-coaster of emotions, and he has bought into that. He understands that in the game of football, good things and bad things are going to happen. So on and off the field, he carries himself the same way.”