Ohio State QB commit Air Noland ready to prove he's the best in the country at Elite 11 Finals

Fairburn (Ga.) Langston Hughes four-star quarterback Air Noland grew up watching guys like Justin Fields and Trevor Lawrence. He watched them dominate in-state competition before making it to the Elite 11 and then taking that jump to college and eventually the NFL.

Following in their footsteps, Noland earned an invite to this years Elite 11 Finals in Los Angeles.

“To get the invite to the Elite 11 meant a lot to me,” Noland told On3. “I play the game in a unique way. I thank God that I play quarterback because I get to display and my talents and put on a show at the Elite 11. When I think of the Elite 11, I think of the next of quarterbacks that will get drafted to the NFL.

“I think of a bright future for that specific class and the elite of the elite. The best competition against the best and I’m looking forward to competing against the best in the country.”

Noland said he was in sixth or seventh grade when he really became aware of just how important the Elite 11 was for quarterbacks. He watched guys like Lawrence and Fields compete for the title of the nation’s top quarterbacks.

A student of the game, the Ohio State four-star pledge went back and watched other guys like Kyler Murray and Tua Tagovailoa compete in their years. His biggest takeaway from watching those events was seeing all of the names that went on to get drafted.

As much fun as he expects to have this week, Noland has a bigger goal.

“The main focus is to win MVP and show why I think I’m the best quarterback in the country,” said Noland, the No. 4 quarterback in the 2024 On300. “Not only proving it to myself but to every other quarterback out there, every news reporter out there and everyone. I’m coming out there with full head of steam focused on winning the MVP and being the best of version of myself. If I can do that then it will be without question that I’m the best quarterback in the country.”

Noland enjoying life recruiting for Buckeyes

Since committing to the Buckeyes in April, Noland has had one singular focus: build the Buckeyes 2024 class.

So far that goal has been a success. Ohio State has the No. 2 class in the country and the No. 1 class in the Big Ten.

It’s also been an offense-heavy class with 10 of their 14 pledges on the offensive side of the ball. That’s a number that Noland says he hopes to see grow in the coming months.

“Life has been chill since I committed and I’ve been the one recruiting for the past few months,” Noland said. “It feels like I’m part of the coaching staff at this point with the way I’m recruiting the 2024 and 2025 classes. I’ve been enjoying the process of building my culture and relationship with the coaches at Ohio State.