South Carolina QB Zeb Noland highlights relationship with 'best friend' Trey Lance

Zeb Noland has had a unique experience this summer at South Carolina. The quarterback joined the Gamecocks as a graduate assistant under first-year coach Shane Beamer, but still holds one year of college eligibility.

This summer, the Gamecocks’ quarterback room took a hit due to an injury to their presumed starter, Luke Doty. So, the former Iowa State and North Dakota State quarterback was added to the South Carolina roster three weeks before the season, according to Fox 57’s Mike Uva.

Back on the playing field, Noland is using lessons learned from his best friend to help him. Luckily, his best friend is a former teammate who happened to go number three overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, Trey Lance.

In a media availability session, Zeb Noland detailed his relationship with current San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance, calling him his hero.

“You guys all watch the NFL – my best friend in the whole world is Trey Lance, and to watch him go out and command San Francisco’s huddle, I look up to him as truly my hero because he changed my life,” said Noland. “That’s what I try to bring here, just knowing what’s going on, using my skill, knowledge and just cutting it loose.”

‘I go out there with the same mentality he’s got.’

Additionally, Noland continued to say he has the same mentality that Lance brings. A mentality that made his best friend one of the best quarterbacks in all of the country.

“With Trey, he was the very first person to call me on my birthday at midnight and he was the very first person to know about any of this stuff going on other than Coach Beamer and Coach Satt,” Noland said. “We talked after the game and his off day was the same as mine, so we talked yesterday. I go out there with the same mentality he’s got.”

Now, Lance and Noland are both in competitive quarterback battles. While Lance battles Jimmy Garoppolo for the starting gig for the 49ers, Noland wants to prove he belongs with the Gamecocks.

“He’s going out there trying to beat out Jimmy Garoppolo, who is really, really talented. He goes out there every day and tries to be the best person he can be, a good person, good teammate and let everything take care of itself,” said Noland. “That’s what I want to try to do. 

“I’m older than him in years, but he’s very mature. When your best friend is a guy like that, who is mature, why not try to be like each other.”

‘That’s really what changed my life.’

Finally, Noland detailed what changed his perspective on everything. He mentions that while Lance may be younger than him, his former teammate inspires him in everything he does.

“That’s what changed my life is that you have a guy who’s 19, gets drafted, makes 30 million dollars, doesn’t spend his money – you have to pull his arm to spend his money – he’s very humble, very detailed in everything he does, why wouldn’t you want to be a guy like that, even if he is 19 years old?” said Noland. “That’s really what changed my life is just seeing someone so young show me the way.”

As Zeb Noland looks for inspiration as he returns to the football field, Trey Lance is a tremendous place to find some.