From High School Star to College Underdog: Air Noland’s Journey of Patience and Growth
For Air Noland, high school football was a breeze. As the quarterback for Langston Hughes High (GA), he played with confidence, slinging passes and making highlight-reel plays. One moment still stands out—a 99-yard touchdown pass to Rodney Shelley, now a defensive back at Georgia Tech.
“It was a backside one-on-one type of deal, so it was a yes-no,” Noland recalled. “We had trips to the field. To the boundary, I liked my one-on-one. The corner was kind of not in a good position. So I felt like we had a double move that I could go to. I did my double move, and (Shelley) took it 99.”
During his high school career, Noland racked up over 10,000 passing yards and 100 touchdowns, including 55 in his junior year alone. He wasn’t just one of the best quarterbacks in the country—he was one of the best players, period.
From Ohio State to South Carolina: A Lesson in Patience
Despite his high school dominance, college football has been a different story. Noland initially committed to Ohio State, expecting to thrive. But reality hit hard—he found himself buried in a stacked quarterback room. With Will Howard (Kansas State transfer), Devin Brown, Lincoln Kienholz, and five-star Julian Sayin all ahead of him, opportunities were scarce.
Even as a four-star recruit and the No. 5-ranked QB in his class, Noland never took a snap. Instead, he redshirted while Ohio State won a national championship.
Yet, the experience wasn’t wasted. He learned the complexities of a Chip Kelly offense, something that he believes will shape his development.
“I learned that the playbook can extend very far, as long as you can take on everything that they’re giving you,” Noland said. “I feel like I learned a lot from Coach Chip Kelly. He’s a great coach, and I feel like he taught me a lot of knowledge that I needed to learn going into college.”
Under Kelly’s guidance, Ohio State’s offense averaged 429.4 yards and 35.7 points per game. The offensive scheme was demanding, but it taught Noland the importance of gradual mastery.
“You have to learn the playbook, just like you have to learn how to crawl. So you have to take it by baby steps and just be comfortable and be within your skin,” he said. “Try not to do too much with the playbook or get outside your frame; just stay within the system. I feel like anybody can be a great quarterback in that playbook if you’re locked in.”
The South Carolina Move: Betting on the Future
After a season of learning but not playing, Noland made the move to South Carolina, fully aware that LaNorris Sellers had already locked down the starting job. So why make the switch? Simple—he’s playing the long game.
With four years of eligibility remaining, Noland sees himself as a potential successor to Sellers. But he also welcomes the challenge of competing.
“It pushes you each and every day. It doesn’t let you be lackadaisical. It makes you a better quarterback,” Noland said. “I feel like competition also brings the best out of you. With a quarterback like LaNorris Sellers, he’s a guy I can push and hopefully compete with and have fun with that.”
For now, Noland might not be under center on Saturdays. But his journey has already proven that patience and preparation can lead to something bigger. And when his moment finally comes, he plans to be ready.
