Air Noland obligated Ohio State in April 2023. He was one of the lynchpins of the Buckeyes’ 2024 signing class and was immediately touted as the quarterback of the program’s future.
Then, nine months later, Julian Sayin transferred. Nobody expected that – not even Sayin or Ohio State.
Sayin confirmed Tuesday that he left Alabama due to the surprise resignation of legendary coach Nick Saban last winter.
“I came to play for Coach Saban,” Sayin said. “We had a great relationship during the recruiting process. I liked Coach Saban and I really want to play for him. Just the new staff that came in, we didn’t have a relationship before I got there.”
“I just felt like coming here was the best decision for me.”
Sayin’s arrival meant the Buckeyes entered spring ball with five scholarship quarterbacks, including two true freshmen who were both Elite 11 finalists and top-five signal-callers in the On3 Industry Rankings.
“We didn’t have much of a relationship before,” Sayin said when asked about Noland. “We met at Elite 11 and knew each other a little bit. And then we came here to the quarterback room, everyone is really close here. We all push each other to get better. We take coaching tips from each other and try to get better.”
Sayin came to public attention at Ohio State University on Student Appreciation Day in late March when he showed off his gunslinger mentality in front of students and media at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. He then shed his black stripe on April 8, making him the fastest true freshman quarterback to shed his black stripe since Urban Meyer started the tradition in 2012.
So Sayin has hit the ground running this spring. That wasn’t necessarily the case for Noland, who had his ups and downs in March and April. Noland admitted Tuesday that he was homesick when he first arrived on campus as a mid-term student. Still, he finished the spring season on a high note, completing 5 of 7 passes for 47 yards in the spring game and rushing for another 42 yards on five carries while driving two consecutive touchdown runs.
Noland has settled in and is enjoying this developmental year for the College Park, Georgia, native, including settling into a growing relationship with Sayin.
“It’s been good,” Noland said. “We’re teaching each other every day and making sure we know each other’s stuff and the game slows down for us.”
He added: “We make each other better in many ways. You know, that’s my guy.”
“That’s what I expect from him.”
At the end of the 2024 recruiting cycle, Sayin was the second-best quarterback in his class and Noland was the fifth-best quarterback in his class according to On3 Industry Rankings.
Both are at Ohio State University and both are outperforming each other in a crowded room of five scholarship players.
