Skull Session: Air Noland is a Five-Star Quarterback, Genoa Township Honors Dimitrious Stanley and Ohio State's Running Back Room Will Be Elite in 2023

By Chase Brown on July 3, 2023 at 5:00 am
Air Noland
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Ohio State landed 2024 five-star defensive tackle Justin Scott on Sunday. Larry Johnson still delivers the #BOOMs, folks.

Let's have a good Monday, shall we?

 THE COVETED FIFTH STAR. On Friday, 247Sports updated its composite rankings for the 2024 class, which boosted Ohio State commit Air Noland to a five-star quarterback along with former Ohio State and current Georgia commit Dylan Raiola, Alabama commit Julian Sayin and Florida commit DJ Lagway.

The update also improved Noland's stoinks from the No. 8 quarterback and No. 84 overall prospect on his April 8 commit date to the No. 4 quarterback and No. 34 overall prospect in the class a little under three months later. For those curious – and I know you all will be – Michigan commit Jadyn Davis, a former five-star quarterback, is now a four-star recruit and ranked as the No. 6 quarterback in 2024.

With Noland now rated as a five-star, I want to test your Ohio State knowledge, dear reader, specifically your knowledge about the Buckeyes' five-star quarterbacks in the modern recruiting era. So here's the question: Which of these Ohio State quarterbacks were five-star recruits in the 247Sports composite?

*Note: This list includes Buckeyes who committed to Ohio State out of high school. Therefore, Justin Fields, who arrived on campus in 2019 as a transfer from Georgia, is omitted. Raiola, who decommitted from Ohio State's 2024 class, is also not included.

  • Craig Krenzel
  • Justin Zwick
  • Troy Smith
  • Todd Boeckman
  • Terrelle Pryor
  • Joe Bauserman
  • Braxton Miller
  • Kenny Guiton
  • J.T. Barrett
  • Cardale Jones
  • Joe Burrow
  • Dwayne Haskins
  • Tate Martell
  • C.J. Stroud
  • Jack Miller III
  • Kyle McCord
  • Quinn Ewers
  • Devin Brown
  • Lincoln Kienholz

The Answers

Justin Zwick, 2003-06

The No. 3 quarterback and No. 34 overall prospect in the class of 2003, Zwick was Ohio State's first-ever five-star signal-caller. The Massillon, Ohio, native completed 57.2% of his passes for 1,779 yards, seven touchdowns and seven interceptions in four seasons, in which he spent his time primarily as a backup for Smith, a Heisman Trophy winner in 2006.

Terrelle Pryor, 2008-10

Pryor was the No. 1 dual-threat quarterback and No. 2 overall prospect in the class of 2008. He was electric as a Buckeye, collecting 6,177 passing yards, 2,164 rushing yards, 76 touchdowns and 26 interceptions in 39 appearances across three seasons. The Jeanette, Pennsylvania, native was also the Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2008 and the Rose Bowl MVP in 2010.

Braxton Miller, 2011-15

Miller arrived at Ohio State as the No. 2 dual-threat quarterback and No. 30 overall prospect in the class of 2011. The Dayton, Ohio, native became an even more electric player than Pryor, recording 88 touchdowns – 52 passing, 33 rushing and three receiving – and winning two Big Ten Player of the Year awards in five seasons as a Buckeye.

Quinn Ewers, 2021

I reckon Ewers will be the quarterback people missed most on their test, mainly because his Ohio State career was a blur. The Southlake, Texas, native reclassified from 2022 to 2021 and arrived on campus in August after fall camp had started. Four months and two snaps vs. Michigan State later, Ewers entered the transfer portal and landed at Texas, where the No. 1 quarterback and No. 1 overall prospect in 2021 has since hooked 'em real good. Eh, more like hooked 'em fine.

Kyle McCord, 2021-Present

The No. 6 quarterback and No. 28 overall prospect in the class of 2021, McCord is currently in a battle with 2022 four-star Devin Brown for Ohio State's QB1 spot this fall. To this point, the Philadelphia native has completed 70.7% of his passes for 606 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions in two seasons with the Buckeyes.

How did you do? Share your scores in the comments, but understand that releasing your number could result in you being called a casual, the worst title a fan can receive in the realm of sports.

 THE DIMITRIOUS STANLEY WAY. On Saturday, the Delaware County Board of Commissioners renamed Alpine Drive to Dimitrious Stanley Way after the former Ohio State wide receiver's death on Feb. 9. Several of Stanley's family and friends attended an event for the street's name change, and Columbus' NBC4 was there to capture the moments.

A native of Worthington, Ohio, Stanley is remembered for his successful career as a pass-catcher for the Buckeyes, which culminated with a team-best 829 yards and eight touchdowns in 1996. Many also recall his on-air talent for several Central Ohio media companies and his passion for creating Brave Men Inc. to raise awareness about prostate cancer. But more than those accomplishments and achievements, people remember his compassion and kindness above all.

Stanley had a beautiful soul that touched the hearts of many. 

Props to Delaware County and Genoa Township for acknowledging the impact he had on those closest to him and the entire Central Ohio community. He was one of a kind, and he will be missed.

 A PAIR AND SPARES. With TreVeyon Henderson, Miyan Williams, Chip Trayanum, Evan Pryor and Dallan Hayden, Ohio State's running back room will be loaded in 2023. But is it the best running back room in America? According to Pro Football Focus, there's only one better: the ball carriers from That Team Up North.

From Max Chadwick of PFF:

1. MICHIGAN WOLVERINES

As was the case for our quarterback room rankings, the best running back unit in the country features the best running back in the country. Blake Corum’s 96.2 grade in 2022 didn’t just lead all FBS players, it was the highest by a Power Five player since PFF began charting college football in 2014.

The Wolverines also have college football’s best No. 2 back in Donovan Edwards, who’s a top-10 running back in the nation. He led all Power Five backs with 7.1 yards per carry while the sophomore’s 87.0 grade was tied for fifth in that same group. When Corum went down with a knee injury late in the season, Edwards stepped up when it mattered most. Against Ohio State, Purdue in the Big Ten Championship Game and TCU in the College Football Playoff semifinal, he ran for a combined 520 yards and averaged 7.4 yards per carry.

2. OHIO STATE BUCKEYES

Ohio State’s duo trails only Michigan’s as the best in the country. As a true freshman in 2021, TreVeyon Henderson’s 6.8 yards per carry led all Power Five running backs. A broken bone in his foot forced him to miss five games as a sophomore, leading to Miyan Williams taking the reins. Among Power Five running backs this past season, he was fourth in forced missed tackle rate (38%), yards after contact per attempt (4.4) and first down/touchdown rate (38.3%). To top it all off, true freshman Dallan Hayden earned an 80.6 grade on 215 snaps in 2022 as well.

As of July 3, Michigan is correctly ranked as the nation's No. 1 running back room. However, that position comes after a season in which that position was decimated by injuries for the Buckeyes.

If Henderson, Williams, Trayanum, Hayden and Pryor can all stay healthy this fall – please find wood and knock on it – Ohio State could clear Corum and Edwards in production and reputation when it's all said and done. After all, Tony Alford did pick Henderson and Pryor over Edwards in 2021, and he seems to love what Williams, Trayanum and Hayden provide in their respective capacities.

The strength of Ohio State's running backs will depend on the offensive line's ability to create gaps and Ryan Day and Brian Hartline's willingness to pound the rock when necessary. Here's another "if," but Ohio State fans should feel great about the Buckeye ball carriers from start to finish if that happens.

 START YOUR ENGINES. On Sunday, former Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields was the grand marshal for NASCAR's Cup Series race in Chicago.

Whenever I hear of celebrity grand marshals for NASCAR races, I am reminded of when actor, comedian and two-time Teen Choice Awards nominee for "Hitch" and "Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2" Kevin James had that honor for the Daytona 500 in 2007. His 15-second speech before the race started was, and still is, legen – wait for it – dary.

"God bless our troops. God bless America. And GENTLEMENNNNNNNN... START... YOUR... ENGINESsSSsSSsSSsSSS."

Incredible.

While Fields wasn't as animated in his speech, the Chicago Bears star told reporters at the event that his experience was memorable from start to finish.

From Jay Cohen of the Associated Press:

“It’s fun,” he said. “This is my first kind of interaction with it, and you know, my time here, I really enjoyed it. It’s fun, and I think as time goes on, I mean I know it’s already a big sport, but I think it’s going to continue to grow, for sure.”

Fields gave the command for drivers to start their engines from the press center after the start of the race was delayed by a historic amount of rain that flooded the downtown Chicago course. The last half of the Xfinity Race, set to resume after it was suspended Saturday because of lightning, was canceled.

Cheers to him. Here's to a successful season for him and Da Bears.

 SONG OF THE DAY. "How Deep Is Your Love" by Bee Gees.

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Ohio State Has Leaned Heavily on Starting Defensive Linemen, But Ryan Day Wants to Mix Backups in More

Kayden McDonald

THE SITUATIONAL: Fear of a Setting Sun

Oct 29, 2022; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin (right) shakes hands with Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day (left) following the completion of the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Ohio State defeated Penn State 44-31. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-Imagn Images
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