4-Star QB Air Noland Names Buckeyes Finalist
Buckeyes #Buckeyes
Updating information about top 2024 Ohio State Buckeyes recruiting targets daily
March 25
The Ohio State Buckeyes have made the final list for one. of the top QBs in the 2024 class, Langston Hughes (Fairburn, GA) four-star quarterback, Air Noland.
Noland released his top seven finalists on Saturday, including the Buckeyes alongside Texas A&M, Alabama, Clemson, Oregon, Miami, and Arkansas.
A dual-threat with plenty of size (6-foot-3, 195 pounds) coming off of a banner, undefeated state championship season with gaudy production (4,000-plus passing yards, 55 touchdowns), Noland’s stock has never been higher.
March 25
One of the top overall recruits in the class of 2024 is now on campus in Columbus.
In somewhat of a surprise visit, Williams Nwaneri is on campus at Ohio State for his first look at the program. The Lee’s Summit (Mo.) North defensive line recruit, ranked No. 1 at his position via On3 and 247Sports, could be the most coveted non-quarterback in the class.
Nwaneri, whom the Buckeyes offered back in January, is a well-traveled recruit but this marks the first recorded trip to OSU as a prospect. Larry Johnson was on the case on the Buckcyes’ behalf, issuing the offer, so now each party will get the first in-person impression of the other.
The rising-senior recruit, listed at 6-foot-5, 250 pounds, recently spent time at Georgia, Oklahoma, Oregon and others.
March 24
Jeremiah Smith has been honest about plenty in his recruitment since committing to Ohio State in December.
The No. 1-ranked wide receiver recruit has reported solidity to Ryan Day and Brian Hartline, but also that he will continue to take visits elsewhere for due diligence purposes.
The latest trip was to the in-state Florida Gators, which hosted the Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade Madonna star recruit for an unofficial visit. UF’s class headliner and blue-chip quarterback recruit DJ Lagway shared photos of the two in Gainesville via social media.
Smith has also recently visited Florida State while contemplating official visit opportunities with programs like Georgia, USC and Tennessee in the months to come.
“They’re top schools still because you never know what could happen at Ohio State,” Smith said earlier this month. “Coach Hartline gets fired, coaching changes, coach Hartline might get a job offer in the NFL, he might take it, so I got to keep that relationship open with all the coaches.
“So I ain’t really going to cut nobody off.”
March 23
One of the top available defensive back recruits is set to spend time in Columbus this weekend.
Ify Obidegwu, the Baltimore (Md.) St. Frances Academy standout who has OSU in his top seven along with Alabama, Tennessee, USC, Oregon, Maryland and Michigan, announced his visit plans via social media this week.
A lengthy cornerback projection at 6-foot-1, 185 pounds, Obidegwu is a top 100 overall recruit based on the On3 Industry Ranking and sits just outside the top 10 among cornerbacks at this time.
Ohio State offered the rising-senior recruit back in December after the St. Frances Academy season came to a close.
Per reports, Obidegwu is looking to make a preseason decision, so spring and summer visits will be essential to cut his list further ahead of making a final decision in the next four months.
This is the first known trip to OSU for the elite prospect.
March 22
Tuesday wasn’t the best day, at least optically, for Ohio State recruiting.
Longtime Buckeye football target and in-state star at Cincinnati (Ohio ) Moeller High School Jordan Marshall, made a visit to Michigan over the weekend and saw enough to end his college football recruitment.
The blue-chip back committed to Jim Harbaugh’s program over OSU, Tennessee and plenty of Big Ten programs with a post via social media.
The rising-senior back had begun scheduling official visits in the month of June, including one to Columbus for late in the summer, so it will be interesting to see how he approaches the recruiting process moving forward.
OSU has yet to earn the pledge of a running back in the class of 2024.
March 20
Another top talent will be making his way to Columbus.
According to reports, five-star St. Ignatius (Chicago, IL) defensive lineman Justin Scott has set an official visit with the Buckeyes for June 23-25.
He will also visit Georgia from June 2-4.
Scott is currently considered a Notre Dame lean, but the Buckeyes have plenty of time to improve their standing in the race for his signature – starting with the official visit this summer.
March 20
The nation’s best will be in Columbus on Monday.
Brandon Baker, Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei offensive tackle and arguably the most coveted at the position nationally, announced his plans to take an unofficial visit to Ohio State via social media.
Baker is one of several Californians expected in town at the beginning of the week, but likely the highest-ranked of the bunch. 247Sports tabs Baker as the nation’s top-ranked offensive tackle recruit overall, as does the On3 industry measure.
Armed with more than 30 scholarship offers, Baker has had a busy spring on the trail and most recently took in an unofficial visit to Miami. Colorado and USC hosted him earlier this year. OSU initially offered the rising-senior recruit at the beginning of his junior season in September.
Listed at just under 6-foot-5, 285 pounds, Baker also has offers from Georgia, Michigan, Penn State, Texas and many others.
March 17
One of California’s best, whom doesn’t currently hold an Ohio State offer, is set to make his first trip to Columbus.
Former Peach State star turned Californian, Los Alamitos (Calif.) High School defensive lineman T.A. Cunningham, announced plans to be in Columbus for the first time via social media.
The 6-foot-6, 270-pound prospect holds, somewhat famously, 60-plus scholarship offers to his name. Most of the Power Five is included, but not the Buckeyes just yet.
Could Cunningham get good news while at OSU this weekend? The class of 2024 is heating up during the spring visit season, so it wouldn’t come as much of a surprise. Miami, Oklahoma, LSU and many others are involved with the rising-senior recruit, who will also see Penn State on the current visit swing.
Cunningham is rated four stars across the industry, tabbing as high as the nation’s No. 33 overall prospect via the ESPN 300.
March 16
One of the nation’s best at the cornerback position happens to reside in Ohio and plenty of visits lie ahead for Aaron Scott.
Naturally, one of them will be a return trip to Columbus, On3 reports. Amid a slew of trips in March and April, the Springfield (Ohio) High School blue-chip recruit will be back at Ohio State on April 3.
Other programs expecting to host the 6-foot, 170-pounder include Michigan, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Oregon and others.
OSU has of course been pursuing the in-state junior for some time, jumping in with an offer back in June 2022. He has visited the program several times already, with the expected familiarity one would assume from an in-state star.
However, Scott has some 30 scholarship offers to his name, so the Buckeyes will face stout competition until the lengthy prospect is ready to come off the board.
March 13
One of the nation’s top prospects, from arguably the top prep program in the country, has trimmed his list with the Buckeyes in the final grouping.
Zabien Brown, the Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei secondary prospect, announced a top four of OSU, Alabama, USC and Oregon on Sunday evening.
The Buckeyes have new ground to stand on in this recruitment considering it is one of Brown’s most recent scholarship offers. He posted the news after a conversation with Ohio State assistant Tim Walton in mid January.
Brown told On3 he plans on taking multiple trips to Columbus, including a summer official visit, before a preseason verbal commitment is to be made.
March 7
One of Ohio State’s longtime secondary targets has set up a trip to Columbus.
Jordon Johnson-Rubell, the IMG Academy safety who transferred there from the state of Texas, will make an unofficial visit to Ohio State on March 25th.
The news was initially reported by Rivals’ Ryan Wright on Monday.
Johnson-Rubell, a MaxPreps All-American selection, picked up the Buckeye offer back in January. Since then, he has worked to get to campus to get a closer look at the program.
“Ohio State came to my practice and we started talking,” Johnson-Rubell told Buckeyes Now in January. “He was telling me some things I was doing right, some things I was doing wrong — I like that about a coach.
“He’s coaching me at this age and I’m not at Ohio State yet.”
The trip to Columbus is to be the first impression for Johnson-Rubell, who is among the most coveted secondary prospects in the class of 2024.
Alabama, Michigan, Texas, TCU and Colorado will also get a trip out of Johnson-Rubell in the spring season.
March 5
Former Ohio State quarterback commitment Dylan Raiola recently took a visit to USC.
Now, the Trojans have emerged as a favorite for his services, according to On3.
Raiola is also seriously considering Nebraska and Georgia.
As for the Buckeyes, it appears that a clean break has been made between Raiola and the program, and the Arizona native.
Railoa is currently the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2024 class, and a Five-Star Plus+ prospect according to On3.
March 4
Ohio State has plenty of top targets up front in the class of 2024, and one of the nation’s best plans on being in Columbus for an official visit.
OSU hasn’t been linked to the IMG Academy star of late, and it didn’t make his top 10 released in December, but clearly the communication between each party has picked up.
Late in the week he told Fan Nation’s Brian Smith he would take an official visit to Columbus before the conclusion of his recruitment.
“As for officials, I know I have…one for Michigan State…and Ohio State,” Stone said.
The five-star recruit, ranked as high as the No. 4 overall recruit on 247Sports, is on an unofficial visit to Texas A&M this weekend. Stone has an ambitious visit slate for the spring months, leading to official visits in the summer.
The June window is most likely where OSU, which offered back in January, will get its in-person shot with the 6-foot-4.5, 283-pound interior defensive line recruit.
March 2
The nation’s very best will soon be in Columbus.
Amid a busy March and April on the visit trail, freshly-minted No. 1 class of 2024 football recruit (via On3) Dylan Stewart will make an unofficial visit to Ohio State on March 24. Programs like Georgia, Alabama and Michigan, among others, will also get the pass-rusher on campus.
Stewart, who took a trip to Columbus last summer for another unofficial visit, earned his Buckeye offer from Larry Johnson more than a year ago — in January of 2022.
The Washington (D.C.) Friendship Collegiate rising-senior recruit, listed at 6-foot-5, 235 pounds, holds some three dozen scholarship offers to his name. As a junior in 2022, he amassed 16 sacks and a state championship for FCA.
February 24
One of Ohio State’s top quarterback targets will wrap up next month in Columbus, per On3.
Prentiss ‘Air’ Noland, the Fairburn (Ga.) Langston Hughes state champion quarterback in the class of 2024, has been busy on the visit trail and has more trips in the works moving forward, including to Ohio State on March 31.
OSU is searching for its quarterback recruit in the class after Dylan Raiola de-committed from Ryan Day’s program in December. As the Arizona native focuses on Georgia, USC and Nebraska, among others, the Buckeyes have increased efforts towards Noland even more than others despite not having offered the Peach State prospect just yet.
A dual-threat with plenty of size (6-foot-3, 195 pounds) coming off of a banner, undefeated state championship season with gaudy production (4,000-plus passing yards, 55 touchdowns), Noland’s stock has never been higher.
Not only has the Buckeyes’ coaching staff been pushing for Noland as the year turned, but it just signed one of his top passing targets from the state title team in blue-chip tight end Jelani Thurman. The elder LHHS standout is already enrolled for good in Columbus.
Outside of Ohio State, it’s Clemson, Texas A&M, Arkansas and Miami among the programs most consistently communicating with the rising-senior recruit. He is expected to visit each within the next five weeks or so, meaning a verbal commitment could be in order thereafter.
February 22
Kamarion Franklin is a national recruit, a five-star on Rivals and the consensus top class of 2024 recruit in Mississippi.
The defensive end has a growing offer list and an ambitious visit schedule to pair with it, and Ohio State is among the programs already locked into an upcoming trip. The Lake Cormorant (Miss.) High School star received his Buckeye offer from Larry Johnson in early February, and tells SBLive’s Andrew Nemec he will be in town for the spring game the weekend of April 15.
“They have a history of guys that play my position – defensive end,” Franklin said. “I’m just excited to see what they have to offer and what the players are like. Like coach Johnson, when I come they are going to show me the plan they have for me. I’m excited to see what they have to offer.”
Franklin has several additional visits planned for the spring months as his recruitment hits its full stride. The 6-foot-5, 260-pound prospect is already Lake Cormorant’s all-time leader in sacks.
February 21
A Buckeye target from the state of Georgia has trimmed his list, yet OSU remains in the hunt.
Demello Jones, who plays in both the secondary and at wide receiver for 2022 state runner-up Swainsboro (Ga.) High School, took the next step in his recruitment on Monday evening.
Heavy hitters are included in the top group along with OSU, such as Georgia, Alabama, Notre Dame and others through more than two dozen scholarship offers collected.
OSU is among the more recent schools to jump in on the 6-foot-1, 180-pound Jones, offering a scholarship his way in mid January. When he posted the offer, secondary coach Tim Walton was tagged — so perhaps OSU sees him as a defender at this time.
February 20
One of Ohio State’s top targets has his return date to Columbus set.
James Peoples, a top 10 running back recruit with OSU sky high on his list of options to this point, will be back in town next month for a fresh look at Ryan Day’s program. According to Sam Spiegelman, it will be a multi-day trip.
Naturally, Tony Alford has led the charge for the blue-chip back out of San Antonio (Texas) Veterans Memorial High School.
“Coach Alford is a smart running back coach and personable, and when I need to talk he’s always there,” Peoples told Spiegelman. “He’s making me a better person, nurturing me as a student-athlete, and building my character.”
Peoples ranks as a top 100 overall recruit per the On3 Consensus.
February 18
One of the top tight end recruits in the class of 2024 trimmed his list this week, with Ohio State still alive in an expanding recruitment.
Max LeBlanc, the Chattanooga (Tenn.) Baylor School tight end trimmed a list of nearly 30 scholarship offers down to eight, with Michigan, Penn State, Miami, Tennessee, Kentucky, Duke and Stanford also making the cut.
“Love Coach Bailey and how they use the tight end. Also I’ve been a big fan of Ohio State since I started playing football,” LeBlanc told 247Sports.
The 6-foot-4, 225-pound prospect learned of his scholarship offer from assistant coach Keenan Bailey less than a month ago, on January 24. LeBlanc, who helped Baylor to a state championship as a junior, is also looking at taking his first recruiting visit to Columbus in the near future.
February 17
Another elite Texas prospect headed to Columbus for college?
According to Rivals, the possibility is strong with Temple (Texas) Lake Belton wide receiver Micah Hudson. The outlet is framing the early stages of the recruitment as an Ohio State versus Texas battle for the blue-chip pass catcher.
“Ohio State is a school to watch for Hudson because of its success developing receivers but Texas is absolutely a real player along with Texas Tech because he has great relationships with the coaches in Lubbock. There are many others in the mix, too,” Rivals National Recruiting Director Adam Gorney wrote this week.
More than 30 programs have offered Hudson a scholarship to date, with Florida being the latest to jump in this week.
Rivals tabs Hudson as the No. 6 overall recruit in the class of 2024, second among wide receivers — only trailing OSU pledge Jeremiah Smith at the position.
February 15
Add another top target to Ohio State’s growing list of official visitors for the weekend of June 16.
Clearly efforted by Ryan Day’s staff, the weekend will feature considerable talent on the defensive side of the football with the latest being Charles Lester III. The Sarasota (Fla.) Riverview star has no other official visits scheduled.
The 247Sports report confirms Lester’s plans to make the initial trip within his top five, at least in an official capacity. Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Florida State and Clemson are also in the mix for the talented two-way player most project at cornerback.
The trip is important for all targets, but Lester appears to be considered a tough pull away from the SEC and ACC footprint, where each of his other top schools are located. It places added emphasis on the official visit he will take to Columbus, especially with no clear timeline for a verbal commitment as of this morning.
February 13
The Buckeyes are expected to receive an official visit from 4-star cornerback Miles Lockhart, who told On3 that he plans to make all five of his officials this spring.
Lockhart had recently narrowed his choices to Ohio State, Washington, Oregon, Utah and Northwestern.
“I have visited each school on my list at least twice outside of Washington,” Lockhart told On3. “I plan to take official visits to all five and I would love to get as many as I can in April. Being committing before my senior year, probably by June, if what I want to do. I know I will be committed before my senior year.”
February 13
The Buckeyes have made the top-7 for four-star cornerback, Ify Obidegwu.
Alabama, Michigan, Tennessee, USC, Oregon, and Maryland were also listed as finalists for the St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, MD) product.
February 13
Another Buckeye target from the state of Georgia has trimmed his list, with OSU in good shape thereafter.
Kylan Fox, the blue-chip tight end and defensive end prospect from Loganville (Ga.) Grayson High School, announced his top programs on Sunday via Instagram. Ohio State made the cut along with blue bloods like Georgia, Alabama and many others.
View the original article to see embedded media.
OSU was the only Big Ten program to get the nod for Fox, who has taken multiple trips to Columbus to date. He was most recently at Colorado, Florida and Florida State over the last month or so.
Fox, who is down to a top 15 despite nearly 60 scholarship offers, is ranked as an athlete and top 100 overall recruit in the class of 2024 by 247Sports.
February 12
One of the nation’s best has set his next trip to Ohio State.
Do-it-all athlete KJ Bolden, the Buford (Ga.) High School five-star safety projection, will make an official visit to Columbus the weekend of June 16. It’s the first trip he has set in an official capacity, per On3.
Bolden, who was in town for the Michigan game in November, has a who’s who offer list and will profile as one of the most sought after players in the entire class of the 2024, has long been a Buckeye target.
The Buckeyes made Bolden’s top 15, released on New Year’s Day. Georgia, Alabama, Clemson, USC, Michigan and others are among the many still after the rising-senior recruit. He was also at OSU’s opener against Notre Dame last September, where he posted his meeting with LeBron James.
February 9
When thinking of Ohio State recruiting success in Texas, household names of Buckeye greats come to mind.
The current coaching staff has plenty of resources in the Lone Star State, and one of its best just trimmed his offer list with OSU in the thick of it.
James Peoples, out of San Antonio (Texas) Veterans Memorial, trimmed more than 20 scholarship offers down to a half-dozen on Thursday. Along with the Bucks, Alabama, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas and TCU made the cut.
Peoples earned his offer from OSU back in October, but also spent time in Columbus last offseason camping for Tony Alford and company. As a junior, he ran for nearly 2,000 yards and scored 28 touchdowns on the ground.
February 7
One of the nation’s hottest offensive line recruits will return to Columbus in one month’s time.
Andrew Dennis, the Mount Pleasant (Mich.) High School offensive line recruit, has been busy on the visit trail and he will be back in Columbus next month. He announced the plans to return to OSU over the weekend via social media.
Dennis plans on graduating from MPHS in December, setting the track to enroll at his college of choice in January. Ahead of that, he will navigate a recruiting process including more than one dozen FBS scholarship options to date.
Ohio State has hosted the 6-foot-5 prospect on multiple occasions to date, yet a verbal scholarship offer has yet to be extended.
February 4
One of Ohio State’s top quarterback targets will soon be in Columbus.
Prentice ‘Air’ Noland, the Fairburn (Ga.) Langston Hughes state champion quarterback in the class of 2024, has been busy on the visit trail and has more trips in the works moving forward. Per 247Sports, one of the next visits should be to Columbus for a closer look at the Buckeyes.
OSU is searching for its quarterback recruit in the class after Dylan Raiola de-committed from Ryan Day’s program in December. As the Arizona native focuses on Georgia, USC and Nebraska, among others, the Buckeyes have increased efforts towards Noland.
A dual-threat with plenty of size (6-foot-3, 195 pounds) coming off of a banner, undefeated state championship season with gaudy production (4,000-plus passing yards, 55 touchdowns), Noland’s stock has never been higher.
Not only has the Buckeyes’ coaching staff been pushing for Noland as the year turned, but it just signed one of his top passing targets from the state title team in blue-chip tight end Jelani Thurman. The elder LHHS standout is already enrolled for good in Columbus.
Outside of Ohio State, Alabama, Texas A&M and Miami are among the programs most consistently communicating with the rising-senior recruit.
February 2
Ohio State did not sign a running back recruit in the class of 2023 so it’s not hard to see why the position is a priority as the 2024 cycle ramps up.
One of the nation’s best, Jordan Marshall, has trimmed his list and the Buckeyes made his final four. The in-state star from Cincinnati Moeller has Michigan, Wisconsin and Tennessee still in the mix along with the Buckeyes, he confirmed via social media Thursday.
Marshall, who also plays baseball, averaged nearly 11 yards per carry as a junior in 2022 according to MaxPreps. He earned his Buckeye scholarship offer from Ryan Day and Tony Alford after a strong camp performance last summer.
February 1
Jeremiah Smith is the talk of the class of 2024 after his run over the last two months, helping Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna to another state championship and kicking off the offseason circuit with wow plays each time out.
The junior’s role as a Buckeye ambassador will also continue to be a storyline to follow and he doesn’t have to look hard for a primary target in high school and 7-on-7 club teammate Joshisa Trader. “Jojo” worked on both sides of the ball to help win the state crown and he could project on offense or defense at the next level, with OSU of course heavy on his trail.
Smith is helping the cause.
“We talked about going to college together, and he went with Ohio State early,” Trader told Fan Nation’s Brian Smith over the weekend. “I didn’t want to commit early.”
Trader is currently ranked as the No. 1 wide receiver projection in the 2024 class, over Smith, in the ESPN 300.
Be sure to stay locked into BuckeyesNow all the time!
Join the BuckeyesNow community!
Subscribe to the BuckeyesNow YouTube channel
Follow BuckeyesNow on Twitter: @BuckeyesNow_FN
Follow BuckeyesNow on Instagram: @BuckeyesNow_FN
Like and follow BuckeyesNow on Facebook!