Unpacking the journey of transfer QB Air Noland
(BVM) – Former four-star Ohio State Buckeyes freshman QB Air Noland has the nation buzzing after entering the college football transfer portal.
With that in mind, here’s some information about Air Noland and what has shaped him into one of the nation’s most intriguing football prospects.
Air Noland’s name
Air Noland, born Prentiss Air Noland III, carries a unique name passed down to him from his father. The name “Air” was inspired by his dad’s high school nickname, “Air Jordan.”
“My dad was nicknamed ‘Air Jordan’ in high school,” Noland told The Athletic. “He wore Jordans, had a bald head like him, dressed like him, was skinny, had the calf sleeve and everything. They just started calling him ‘Air’. So, he passed it down to me. It’s on my birth certificate. I love my name.”
Air Noland’s early football recruiting
Noland showed an intense competitive drive from an early age. His father noted that he was already playing up for his age group during his youth football years.
His early display of talent set the stage for an impressive rise in the recruiting world. Noland received his first Division-I offer from the Kentucky Wildcats while still in the 8th grade. By this time, he was already 6-foot-2, 180 pounds.
Noland landed at Langston Hughes in Georgia to continue his high school football career. While private high schools actively recruited him, his parents chose to keep him at Langston Hughes to help elevate the unranked team to new heights.
Air Noland’s high school stats
Noland threw for an impressive 10,164 yards and 126 touchdowns in high school, finishing with a 36-6 record as a starter.
His breakout season came as a junior, where he guided Langston Hughes to a perfect 15-0 record and secured the school’s first state title.
Here’s a breakdown of Noland’s high school stats, per Max Preps:
- Freshman: 1,348 yards and 15 touchdowns to five interceptions
- Sophomore: 2,581 yards and 34 touchdowns to seven interceptions
- Junior: 4,095 yards and 55 touchdowns to four interceptions
- Senior: 2,140 yards and 22 touchdowns to nine interceptions
Interstingly, his 55 touchdown passes currently rank third all-time in Georgia high school football history for a single season – even surpassing the records of Trevor Lawrence (51) and Deshaun Watson (50).
Air Noland graduated HS early for NFL dream
Air Noland balanced being the No. 4 QB in the Class of 2024 while also working toward graduating high school early; he began his quest for early graduation in the ninth grade.
“I started taking courses my freshman year to prepare for college,” Noland told Marietta Daily Journal. “I even took some classes at Georgia Military College.”
Graduating early is a tradition in Noland’s family, with his older siblings also completing high school ahead of schedule. To that point, Noland explained, “I had no choice but to graduate early and go to college.”
For Noland, graduating early wasn’t just about academics; it also meant being a step closer to pursuing his NFL dreams.
Air Noland’s NIL deals
Noland commanded a high NIL worth as one of the top high school prospects in the country. At one point, his NIL valuation soared to $425,000, which ranked No. 1 among all Georgia high school football players, per On3.
However, Noland didn’t commit to the college program that offered him the most NIL money.
“I know for a fact that they didn’t take the highest dollar amount,” Noland’s high school coach, Brandon Williams, told Cleveland.com. “The dollar amount was definitely different at other places. But they loved what Coach Day and the guys (at Ohio State) are doing up there.”
Noland held over 35 college offers, including Ohio State, Alabama, Clemson, Miami, Texas A&M and Oregon.
“I know money moves people, but I’ve been going to work every day since Air was born,” Noland’s mother, Audrey Gill, told Cleveland.com. “I knew the money wasn’t gonna move me now. It was one point when we were offered a lot of (NIL) money, and Air and I looked at each there and froze up. Then we both just busted out laughing… Had we gone into it with a different mindset we probably would’ve taken the money when people called, but the money never really moved us.”
It’s unclear what NIL price tag Noland can command in the 2024 transfer portal, but his decision-making appears rooted in his long-term NFL goals rather than immediate financial gain.
Air Noland in the transfer portal
Once seen as the future of the Ohio State Buckeyes, Noland’s trajectory has taken a sharp turn. After just one season in Columbus and without ever taking a start, the highly-touted quarterback has entered the transfer portal in search of a new opportunity.
Several programs have emerged as possible destinations for Noland, including Colorado, Miami, Clemson and Indiana.
However, the Georgia Bulldogs stand out as a top contender. With QB Carson Beck potentially heading to the NFL, Noland could compete for the starting role alongside Gunner Stockton.
Plus, Athens, Georgia is about two hours from where Noland played high school football.
“I felt homesick, of course,” Noland admitted after a practice camp at Ohio State. “But I was still all in with the Woody and all in with the workouts, all in with my teammates, of course. Of course, I got homesick when I first got here, but it was no distraction for me.”
Regardless of where Noland lands next, it’s clear that his journey is only getting started.
