The South Carolina football program and head coach Shane Beamer have seen another quarterback move on via the transfer portal, as he has chosen a new destination. After previously transferring from Ohio State to South Carolina, Noland is now on the move again and has committed to Memphis.
CBS Sports college football reporters Matt Zenitz and Chris Hummer were among the first to break the news of Noland’s commitment, a move that instantly adds intrigue to the Tigers within the Group of Five landscape. Landing a quarterback with Noland’s pedigree is a significant addition for new head coach Charles Huff and sends a clear message about Memphis’ ambitions moving forward.
Zenitz shared the update on X, writing, “Memphis has signed ex-South Carolina and Ohio State QB Air Noland, @chris_hummer and I have learned. Former top recruit.”
Noland originally signed with Ohio State as a four star recruit out of high school but found himself buried in a crowded quarterback room during the 2024 season, never seeing game action. That situation prompted his transfer to South Carolina, where he again faced stiff competition. With the Gamecocks, Noland sat behind LaNorris Sellers on the depth chart and saw minimal snaps. In limited action, he completed 2 of 3 passes for 13 yards.
Despite the lack of college playing time, Noland remains an intriguing prospect because of his physical traits and high school résumé. The Georgia native stands 6 foot 3 and weighs 225 pounds. He was an Elite 11 finalist, competed in the 2024 All American Bowl in San Antonio, and put up eye popping numbers at Langston Hughes High School. Over his prep career, he threw for more than 10,000 yards and 100 touchdowns, including 4,095 yards and 55 scores as a junior in 2022. That season, he led Langston Hughes to a perfect 15 and 0 record and the Georgia Class 6A state championship.
Memphis is undergoing its own transition after hiring Huff to replace Ryan Silverfield, who left for Arkansas. With AJ Hill also departing via the portal to follow Silverfield, Noland arrives with a clear opportunity. He is expected to enter as the frontrunner for the starting quarterback job and could immediately become a central piece of the Tigers’ rebuild.