Ohio State transfer QB Air Noland sets portal visit for South Carolina

Ohio State transfer quarterback Air Noland is slated to take a portal visit to the South Carolina Gamecocks on Saturday, according to On3’s Pete Nakos. He was one of the most coveted quarterback prospects in the 2024 cycle. According to the On3 Industry Ranking, Noland was tabbed as the No. 59 overall player in America and a four-star prospect. He was ranked as the No. 5 signal-caller in the country, according to those same rankings.

He enrolled at Ohio State in January and went through spring practice with the Buckeyes. With the addition of Alabama short-term signee Julian Sayin to the quarterback room during the winter transfer portal window, Ohio State had five scholarship quarterbacks throughout spring practice.

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly did not name a starting quarterback after the spring game. Kansas State transfer Will Howard is the presumed starter but has been challenged by Devin Brown. Sayin earned rave reviews from Day in recent weeks and has emerged as a real threat in the quarterback competition.

Noland committed to the Buckeyes early in the process in April 2023. An Elite 11 finalist this past summer, he impressed as one of the more accurate passers of the group. Despite the addition of Sayin in January, Noland remained committed to Ohio State.

“You always want to do it earlier,” Kelly, the former UCLA head coach, said after the spring game. “But I also believe every time I’ve been involved in this, it kind of happens organically and authentically because the players know. … Players understand who they feel is the guy. And most of the time the decision is very obvious.”

Noland was 5 of 7 in the spring game, throwing for 47 yards with an interception. The talented southpaw picked the Buckeyes over Alabama, Miami and Texas A&M. He completed 66.5 percent of his passes for 2,140 yards and 22 touchdown passes and 9 interceptions as a senior at Langston Hughes High School in Georgia. During his junior year, however, Noland threw for 4,095 yards and 55 touchdown passes, winning a state title.

On3’s Pete Nakos also contributed to this article.