Rivals Rankings Week: Ohio State commit Air Noland picks up fifth star

Typically it is an early no-brainer, different instances it simply wears on you slowly.

Whether or not speaking in regards to the precise school recruitment or rankings rise of quarterback Air Noland, the latter applies. He needed to wait his flip to get the inexperienced mild to decide to Ohio State, which had No. 1 quarterback recruit Dylan Raiola on board earlier than the shock decommitment again in December. The Buckeye employees’s pivot to Noland following his undefeated state title run in 2022 launched his recruitment nationally and the extra reserved Noland abruptly grew to become a nationwide recruit. His play, nevertheless, continued to show heads into the all-important post-junior season offseason for quarterback recruits.

RELATED: Five-Star Countdown kicks off Rivals Rankings Week

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Rivals Rankings Week

Sunday: Who should be No. 1?

Monday: Five-Star Countdown | Robinson receives fifth star

Tuesday: New Rivals250 revealed | Gorney’s ideas | Ten on the cusp of five-star standing

Wednesday: Offensive place rankings

Thursday: Defensive place rankings

Friday: State rankings

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CLASS OF 2025 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State

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Judging, rating and even evaluating quarterbacks is an inexact science, to say the least, however the numbers do inform their very own story. Manufacturing and/or profitable is connected to the place and few did it like Noland did final fall.

He led Fairburn (Ga.) Langston Hughes Excessive College to a dominant and unblemished title run with a staggering 55 landing passes in opposition to 4 interceptions whereas finishing greater than 73 p.c of his passes alongside the way in which.

The TD mark is greater than the highest two quarterbacks within the class – Raiola and Alabama dedication Julian Sayin – who threw for a mixed 49 scores in 2022. Neither hit 3,000 yards by the air whereas Noland crossed the 4,000-yard threshold en path to the state title ring. The profitable and manufacturing bins are checked in sharpie.

After all Noland is extra distinctive than the numbers can mission. The lefty has a silky easy launch above his 6-foot-3 body, works the pocket with effectivity and may transfer exterior of the pocket as wanted within the trendy sense. He can take what the protection offers him and play methodically beneath timing and accuracy earlier than unloading to the third degree with precision.

Noland is not bodily overwhelming in any a technique, maybe contributing to a slower build-up to the fifth star, however he additionally does not have a significant or evident bodily weak spot. As a lot because the QB analysis sport favors off-script athletic freaks, the opposite batch of passers ascending on the highest ranges are polished level guards and ball distributors that make few errors. Simply take a look at the highest of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Maybe the most important field Noland checks is progress. He has loads of expertise on the varsity degree, beginning greater than 30 video games up to now. Every season since his freshman marketing campaign has seen extra makes an attempt, yardage and scoring, with three fewer interceptions between his sophomore and junior campaigns regardless of 50-plus extra move makes an attempt. Some worth completion proportion excessive amongst QB numbers and Noland’s development is most evident there, making almost a 10-point leap from 2021 to 2022 (64.2 to 73.1). He is additionally added good weight to his body and has the convenience of figuring out his school recruitment behind him heading into his remaining prep marketing campaign.

Noland will not win the NFL mix someday together with his athleticism, however by the opposite main metrics with which quarterbacks are damaged down, he has the prospect to assimilate rapidly on the collegiate degree and change into the subsequent big-time expertise on the place in Columbus. Not solely may the five-star bump be considered as overdue, however his title among the many greatest passers within the class and his potential path to the highest spot shouldn’t be underestimated going ahead. No QB in America has had a greater 12 months than Air Noland.

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