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LGHL BOOM! Ohio State finds its 2024 quarterback in Georgia four-star Air Noland
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BOOM! Ohio State finds its 2024 quarterback in Georgia four-star Air Noland
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Twitter | @AirNoland_
The No. 84 player in the country will play his college football in Columbus.
Business has been BOOOOOOMing for the Buckeyes lately, both on the gridiron and on the hardwood. But on Saturday, it was the football team’s turn to get back on the commitment train as Ryan Day found his quarterback for the 2024 class in Fairburn, Ga. top-100 prospect Prentiss “Air” Noland.
The No. 84 player in the country according to 247Sports Composite Ratings — though No. 55 in 247’s internal rankings — is a 6-foot-3, 195-pound left-handed quarterback who had 35 offers, but ultimately chose the Buckeyes over Alabama, Arkansas, Clemson, Miami, Oregon, Texas A&M, and many more.
Though Noland had been high on OSU’s list for months, he did not officially earn an offer until last weekend when he visited Columbus for an unofficial visit. Despite the fact that Day, quarterback coach Corey Dennis, and offensive coordinator Brian Hartline have been recruiting the QB for a while, they wanted to make sure that they could see him throw in person before making it official, and they did that last weekend, and obviously, both sides were impressed with that they saw on the visit.
Since the beginning of 2023, Noland has been hitting up some of the best programs in the country, visiting Alabama’s Junior Day in January, then Clemson’s, Arkansas, Miami, and Texas A&M before coming to Columbus. He did make one more trip to Tuscaloosa this past Monday, but apparently, it was not enough to persuade him away from OSU.
In December, following the conclusion of his junior season, 247Sports’ Director of Scouting Andrew Ivins compared him to former Indiana Hoosier QB Michael Penix Jr.
“A lefty that can attack all three levels of the field ... Owns a quick, compact release that is believed to be one of the fastest –if not the fastest– in the 2024 cycle. More than comfortable on the move and has plenty of experience running RPOs out of a single-back spread attack. Will beat defenders to the sticks with his legs, and is more than creative when the pocket starts to break down, but shouldn’t be considered a run-first quarterback as he keeps his eyes downfield while working through his progressions and always seems to be looking for the home run.”
Noland was just one touchdown pass from tying the Georgia single-season record of 55. During his junior season, his Langston Hughes High School team went 15-0 to win the AAAAAA state title. Ivins believes that Noland could end up as an NFL starter if he finds the right college home and continues his development.
He should have a pretty good chance to do that working under Day and Dennis. Since The former came to Columbus he has coached three-straight first-round selections at the position (presuming C.J. Stroud doesn’t unthinkably fall out over the next few weeks). All three players — Dwayne Haskins, Justin Fields, and Stroud — also finished as Heisman Finalists and have earned the last five Big Ten Quarterback of the Year awards.
Based on his film and all of the scouts, it seems like Noland has the chance to eventually follow in their footsteps.
“Accurate and not one to make too many mistakes,” Ivins said. “Must adjust to the speed and everyday demands of big-time college football, but has the tools and mechanics to not only win games on Saturdays, but also be a true difference-maker on offense.”
Noland is the ninth player to join the 2024 class, which is already loaded with offensive talent. Ohio State has already landed the No. 2 player in the country in wide receiver Jeremiah Smith along with No. 27 player nationally WR Mylan Graham, No. 69 prospect running back James Peoples, and No. 88 interior offensive lineman Ian Moore.
Also in the class are No. 139 linebacker Garrett Stover, offensive line twins Deontae Armstrong (No. 313) and Devontae Armstrong (No. 354), and IOL Marc Nave (No. 551).
The commitment keeps OSU at No. 4 in the national recruiting rankings, but the team is now within 1.37 points of No. 3 LSU. The Buckeyes’ average player ranking of 94.23 is third nationally behind Alabama (95.09) and Florida (94.93).
Continue reading...
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Twitter | @AirNoland_
The No. 84 player in the country will play his college football in Columbus.
Business has been BOOOOOOMing for the Buckeyes lately, both on the gridiron and on the hardwood. But on Saturday, it was the football team’s turn to get back on the commitment train as Ryan Day found his quarterback for the 2024 class in Fairburn, Ga. top-100 prospect Prentiss “Air” Noland.
The No. 84 player in the country according to 247Sports Composite Ratings — though No. 55 in 247’s internal rankings — is a 6-foot-3, 195-pound left-handed quarterback who had 35 offers, but ultimately chose the Buckeyes over Alabama, Arkansas, Clemson, Miami, Oregon, Texas A&M, and many more.
Though Noland had been high on OSU’s list for months, he did not officially earn an offer until last weekend when he visited Columbus for an unofficial visit. Despite the fact that Day, quarterback coach Corey Dennis, and offensive coordinator Brian Hartline have been recruiting the QB for a while, they wanted to make sure that they could see him throw in person before making it official, and they did that last weekend, and obviously, both sides were impressed with that they saw on the visit.
Since the beginning of 2023, Noland has been hitting up some of the best programs in the country, visiting Alabama’s Junior Day in January, then Clemson’s, Arkansas, Miami, and Texas A&M before coming to Columbus. He did make one more trip to Tuscaloosa this past Monday, but apparently, it was not enough to persuade him away from OSU.
In December, following the conclusion of his junior season, 247Sports’ Director of Scouting Andrew Ivins compared him to former Indiana Hoosier QB Michael Penix Jr.
“A lefty that can attack all three levels of the field ... Owns a quick, compact release that is believed to be one of the fastest –if not the fastest– in the 2024 cycle. More than comfortable on the move and has plenty of experience running RPOs out of a single-back spread attack. Will beat defenders to the sticks with his legs, and is more than creative when the pocket starts to break down, but shouldn’t be considered a run-first quarterback as he keeps his eyes downfield while working through his progressions and always seems to be looking for the home run.”
Noland was just one touchdown pass from tying the Georgia single-season record of 55. During his junior season, his Langston Hughes High School team went 15-0 to win the AAAAAA state title. Ivins believes that Noland could end up as an NFL starter if he finds the right college home and continues his development.
He should have a pretty good chance to do that working under Day and Dennis. Since The former came to Columbus he has coached three-straight first-round selections at the position (presuming C.J. Stroud doesn’t unthinkably fall out over the next few weeks). All three players — Dwayne Haskins, Justin Fields, and Stroud — also finished as Heisman Finalists and have earned the last five Big Ten Quarterback of the Year awards.
Based on his film and all of the scouts, it seems like Noland has the chance to eventually follow in their footsteps.
“Accurate and not one to make too many mistakes,” Ivins said. “Must adjust to the speed and everyday demands of big-time college football, but has the tools and mechanics to not only win games on Saturdays, but also be a true difference-maker on offense.”
Noland is the ninth player to join the 2024 class, which is already loaded with offensive talent. Ohio State has already landed the No. 2 player in the country in wide receiver Jeremiah Smith along with No. 27 player nationally WR Mylan Graham, No. 69 prospect running back James Peoples, and No. 88 interior offensive lineman Ian Moore.
Also in the class are No. 139 linebacker Garrett Stover, offensive line twins Deontae Armstrong (No. 313) and Devontae Armstrong (No. 354), and IOL Marc Nave (No. 551).
The commitment keeps OSU at No. 4 in the national recruiting rankings, but the team is now within 1.37 points of No. 3 LSU. The Buckeyes’ average player ranking of 94.23 is third nationally behind Alabama (95.09) and Florida (94.93).
Check out Air Noland’s Junior Season Highlights:
Continue reading...
LGHL Minnesota forward Jamison Battle announces transfer to Ohio State
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Minnesota forward Jamison Battle announces transfer to Ohio State
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Harrison Barden-USA TODAY Sports
The 6-foot-7, 220-pound lefty wing is already familiar with the Big Ten, and fills multiple needs for the 2023-2024 team.
Chris Holtmann, Jake Diebler, and the Ohio State men’s basketball staff landed one of the biggest fish in the transfer pool today with the announcement that Minnesota forward Jamison Battle will transfer to Ohio State for his final year of eligibility.
Battle, a 6-foot-7, 220-pound forward from Robbinsdale, Minnesota, spent his first two seasons at George Washington, where he averaged 13.5 points and 5.2 rebounds per game over 45 games. He shot 42.9% overall at George Washington, including 36.3% from three-point range.
He then transferred closer to home in 2021, where he led the last-place Golden Gophers in scoring during the 2021-2022 season at 17.5 points per game — this was also the seventh-highest mark in the Big Ten. The jump from the A-10 to the Big Ten didn’t impact his production, as Battle actually set career-highs in nearly every stat category during his first year at Minnesota.
His production and efficiency dropped off pretty steeply as a senior last year, however. Battle averaged 12.4 points per game, but on a career-low 37.1% shooting overall and only 31.1% from three. He averaged 3.8 rebounds per game — over one full rebound shy of his career average — and shot 78.1% from the free throw line.
Battle scored in double digits in 44 of his 56 games at Minnesota, with his career-high of 39 points happening back on February 27, 2022 in a home loss to Indiana. In three career games against Ohio State, he averaged 12.3 points and five rebounds per game, while going 6-22 (27.3%) from beyond the arc.
Adding Battle to the 2023-2024 Ohio State team fulfills two needs — adding a perimeter threat as well as adding a forward with length who can fill in one of the forward positions vacated by Justice Sueing and (potentially) Brice Sensabaugh.
Battle has never graded out as an elite shooter with a career three-point mark of 35%, but he did shoot higher than 35% in three of his four seasons before a huge regression this past year pulled his career average down. He’s averaged seven three-point tries per game each of the past two seasons, which places him top-three in the Big Ten each year in attempts from beyond the arc. His most recent season looks like an outlier, and it could have something to do with playing on a horrendous Minnesota team that averaged just 63 points per game.
Second, Ohio State will most likely need to fill both starting forward positions if Sensabaugh stays in the NBA Draft. Incoming freshmen Scotty Middleton and Devin Royal both look like they have the potential to be stars eventually, but it’s a big ask to start both side-by-side right away. Battle will step in and assume one of those two spots, and also bring experience to a team that will start multiple underclassmen regardless. This team may not need Battle to score 17 points per game on 14 shots per night like he did as a junior at Minnesota, but it will need him to be a consistent double-digit scorer night in and night out.
Battle was not ranked by 247Sports coming out of Minneapolis’ De La Salle High School, but Rivals had him as a three-star recruit. Upon announcing he was transferring on March 16, Battle was contacted by Ohio State as well as up to 20 other schools, including Xavier, Butler, Indiana, Clemson, Oklahoma, Iowa State, Utah, LSU, Santa Clara, Nebraska, Illinois, Arkansas, Wake Forest, Oklahoma State, Cincinnati, and Villanova. He visited Ohio State in late March to meet with the coaching staff and check out the facilities and campus.
247Sports rated Battle as the No. 25 transfer available in the transfer portal this year. On3 had him listed as the No. 15 transfer available. If Sensabaugh returns, he will slide into the other forward position next to Battle. If Sensabaugh leaves, it will likely be Middleton or Royal starting alongside Battle.
Continue reading...
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Harrison Barden-USA TODAY Sports
The 6-foot-7, 220-pound lefty wing is already familiar with the Big Ten, and fills multiple needs for the 2023-2024 team.
Chris Holtmann, Jake Diebler, and the Ohio State men’s basketball staff landed one of the biggest fish in the transfer pool today with the announcement that Minnesota forward Jamison Battle will transfer to Ohio State for his final year of eligibility.
Battle, a 6-foot-7, 220-pound forward from Robbinsdale, Minnesota, spent his first two seasons at George Washington, where he averaged 13.5 points and 5.2 rebounds per game over 45 games. He shot 42.9% overall at George Washington, including 36.3% from three-point range.
He then transferred closer to home in 2021, where he led the last-place Golden Gophers in scoring during the 2021-2022 season at 17.5 points per game — this was also the seventh-highest mark in the Big Ten. The jump from the A-10 to the Big Ten didn’t impact his production, as Battle actually set career-highs in nearly every stat category during his first year at Minnesota.
His production and efficiency dropped off pretty steeply as a senior last year, however. Battle averaged 12.4 points per game, but on a career-low 37.1% shooting overall and only 31.1% from three. He averaged 3.8 rebounds per game — over one full rebound shy of his career average — and shot 78.1% from the free throw line.
Battle scored in double digits in 44 of his 56 games at Minnesota, with his career-high of 39 points happening back on February 27, 2022 in a home loss to Indiana. In three career games against Ohio State, he averaged 12.3 points and five rebounds per game, while going 6-22 (27.3%) from beyond the arc.
Adding Battle to the 2023-2024 Ohio State team fulfills two needs — adding a perimeter threat as well as adding a forward with length who can fill in one of the forward positions vacated by Justice Sueing and (potentially) Brice Sensabaugh.
Battle has never graded out as an elite shooter with a career three-point mark of 35%, but he did shoot higher than 35% in three of his four seasons before a huge regression this past year pulled his career average down. He’s averaged seven three-point tries per game each of the past two seasons, which places him top-three in the Big Ten each year in attempts from beyond the arc. His most recent season looks like an outlier, and it could have something to do with playing on a horrendous Minnesota team that averaged just 63 points per game.
Second, Ohio State will most likely need to fill both starting forward positions if Sensabaugh stays in the NBA Draft. Incoming freshmen Scotty Middleton and Devin Royal both look like they have the potential to be stars eventually, but it’s a big ask to start both side-by-side right away. Battle will step in and assume one of those two spots, and also bring experience to a team that will start multiple underclassmen regardless. This team may not need Battle to score 17 points per game on 14 shots per night like he did as a junior at Minnesota, but it will need him to be a consistent double-digit scorer night in and night out.
Battle was not ranked by 247Sports coming out of Minneapolis’ De La Salle High School, but Rivals had him as a three-star recruit. Upon announcing he was transferring on March 16, Battle was contacted by Ohio State as well as up to 20 other schools, including Xavier, Butler, Indiana, Clemson, Oklahoma, Iowa State, Utah, LSU, Santa Clara, Nebraska, Illinois, Arkansas, Wake Forest, Oklahoma State, Cincinnati, and Villanova. He visited Ohio State in late March to meet with the coaching staff and check out the facilities and campus.
247Sports rated Battle as the No. 25 transfer available in the transfer portal this year. On3 had him listed as the No. 15 transfer available. If Sensabaugh returns, he will slide into the other forward position next to Battle. If Sensabaugh leaves, it will likely be Middleton or Royal starting alongside Battle.
Continue reading...
