Former Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Air Noland is still searching for a chance to be someone's starting QB at the FBS level. It doesn't appear he'll get that chance during the 2026 College Football season, just like he didn't in 2024 and 2025.
CBS Sports' Chip Patterson predicts West Florida Argonauts transfer Marcus Stokes to beat out Noland for the Memphis Tigers' QB1 job. Former Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles and Marshall Thundering Herd head coach Charles Huff, now leading Memphis, and Tigers offensive coordinator Kevin Decker will be making that call.
"Look out, Trinidad Chambliss, we might have another Division II star ready to make a splash at the FBS level," Patterson prefaced before saying, "Marcus Stokes arrives at Memphis after a breakthrough season at West Florida that saw him total 40 touchdowns (30 passing, 10 rushing), earn Offensive Player of the Year honors in his conference and finish as a finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy, given to the most valuable player D-II football.
"His competition for the starting job in Year 1 for Charles Huff is Air Noland, a former blue-chip recruit who started at Ohio State but then transferred to South Carolina and has seen little action at either stop. For both Stokes and Noland, there is plenty to prove following up on what were high hopes as high school prospects, and with Memphis' position in the league and Huff's recent track record of success, it's going to be fascinating to see which player emerges to take the reins of an offense expected to contend in the American."
Air Noland's next step may have to be the FCS if Memphis doesn't work out
Noland's career trajectory is not in a good place right now. He started in Columbus and won a national championship as the third-string QB. Then, he transferred to the South Carolina Gamecocks to sit behind starting LaNorris Sellers, and backups Luke Doty and Cutter Woods. He got three passing attempts total in Columbia, SC.
Now, Noland may be on his last FBS opportunity. If he can't win the starting job this year, or even next year, in Memphis, the FCS may have to come calling.
Given how aggressive President Donald Trump wants to be with dialing back the NIL/rev-share era, Noland may only have one more transfer opportunity.
Hell, maybe he doesn't have any, and the Tigers are his last chance to make a name for himself in College Football.