Ohio State QB Air Noland, former five-star recruit, hits portal

Quarterback Air Noland is back on the runway, entering the transfer portal Monday after one season at Ohio State.

Noland ranked in the top five among quarterbacks in the Class of 2024 and picked the Buckeyes over Alabama and Miami in April 2023.

The Buckeyes anticipate strong competition for the starting job in 2025 with freshman transfer Julian Sayin (originally committed to Alabama) and Tavien St. Clair, a five-star prospect who was ranked as high as No. 3 overall in the 2025 class.

Noland had 55 touchdown passes in 2022 to lead Langston Hughes High School to its first Georgia state championship and ended his high school career with 126 touchdowns.

Devin Brown is working as the backup to Will Howard in playoff preparations, coach Ryan Day said, but Brown is in the transfer portal and expected to play elsewhere next season.

Recent Ohio State transfers at the position include Texas starter Quinn Ewers and Joe Burrow, who left for LSU, won the national title and Heisman Trophy and was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 draft.

Because Michigan signed five-star quarterback and No. 1 overall prospect Bryce Underwood away from LSU, the Tigers are back in the transfer market along with Oklahoma.