The Ohio State Buckeyes’ Next Star Quarterback Has The Perfect Name For A Star QB

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Getty Image / Frank Jansky


For decades, the Ohio State Buckeyes football program was not a place that produced a ton of great college quarterbacks that translated into high NFL draft picks. Prior to Dwayne Haskins being selected by the Washington Commanders in 2019, Ohio State had had just one quarterback in the first round of the NFL Draft since 1941. That was Art Schlichter, who went fourth overall to the Colts in 1982.

But, lately, Ryan Day and company have been turning them out at Ohio State. Since Haskins broke the ice in 2019, Justin Fields went 11th overall to the Chicago Bears. And, CJ Stroud is a lock to go in the top five of this year’s NFL Draft, where he could be selected as high as first overall by the Carolina Panthers, who traded up into the top pick with the Chicago Bears.

Next year’s presumed starter, former five-star out of Philadelphia, Kyle McCord, also has the potential to go in the first round. He will be draft eligible in 2024, and if the gaudy numbers that other Ohio State quarterbacks have put up recently are any indication, he will be in the first-round mix next year.

Utahn five-star Devin Brown is the likely starter after him, but the Buckeyes are looking for their next superstar at the position in every recruiting class. They signed South Dakota star Lincoln Keinholz last year, and while he is talented, he’s very raw, and the jump from South Dakota high school football to the Big Ten is huge.

Earlier in the 2024 recruiting cycle, Ohio State had a commitment from top prospect Dylan Raiola. But he de-committed and is considering Nebraska, Georgia, and USC, among others.

But, over the weekend, they landed a big commitment from a player with a perfect quarterback name.

Air Noland. What a great name for a quarterback. And, he’s a pretty good player, too. On3 has him as a high-four star, and the 110th player and 10th quarterback recruit in the country in the 2024 class.

The Georgia product threw for over 4,000 yards and 55 touchdowns last year. And, Ohio State will hope he can put up similar numbers down the line there.