The Hurry-Up: Five-Star Ohio State QB Commit Air Noland Will Play in a Nationally Televised Game Friday, Four-star 2025 RB Tory Blaylock Puts OSU in Top Schools

By Garrick Hodge on August 14, 2023 at 5:30 pm
Air Noland
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While we’re less than three weeks away from Ohio State returning to the gridiron, prep football is about to be in full swing.

The Ohio high school season is set to begin this weekend, as each of the Buckeyes’ eight 2024 in-state commits will take the field for the start of their senior seasons.

But Ohio State’s quarterback commitment for this cycle is getting a chance to play on a national stage this weekend against another Buckeye quarterback target in the 2026 class. Five-star 2024 quarterback commit Air Noland and Langston Hughes (Fairburn, Georgia) will face highly touted 2026 quarterback Julian Lewis and Carrolton (Carrolton, Georgia) at 6 p.m., with the game being televised on ESPN2. 

Both signal-callers are coming off huge 2022 seasons. Noland threw for 4,095 yards and 55 touchdowns en route to leading his team to a state title a year ago. Lewis, who put OSU in his top eight in July, threw for 4,118 yards and 48 touchdowns last season.

Tory Blaylock includes OSU in top schools

One of Ohio State’s top running back targets in the 2025 class has slightly narrowed down his recruitment. Four-star Texas prospect Tory Blaylock released a top 13 over the weekend that included Ohio State, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Texas, Alabama, Florida State, Miami, Penn State, Wisconsin, Oregon, Georgia and Notre Dame. 

Blaylock is ranked as the 154th overall prospect nationally and the No. 16 running back in 247Sports’ composite rankings for the 2025 class. The 5-foot-11, 175-pound running back visited OSU in June to participate in a recruiting camp and enjoyed working out with running backs coach Tony Alford. 

“We have a pretty good relationship. He's always pushing me to be better,” Blaylock said of Alford after the camp. “(It started) when I came to camp for the first time going into my ninth grade year, I think. Since then, it's been really good. … (He’s) just teaching me the blocking schemes, how to run outside zone, how to run inside zone, just basic football stuff. He really furthered my knowledge on how to run the plays.

“A lot of coaches, they know the game. But he really, really knows the game, man. I feel like he's a step further than a lot of coaches.”

Blaylock continues to be high on the Buckeyes, as OSU will likely take two tailbacks in the 2025 cycle. Other targets include in-state running backs Bo Jackson and Marquise Davis, along with five-star California prospect Jordon Davison. 

“Being here at Ohio State it just showed me that they're up here (at the top), man. Everything you do you got to work hard at,” Blaylock said. “Nothing's handed to you, and they work hard here.”

OSU Twitter reacts to Buckeyes landing McClellan

This may come as a shock to many of you, but apparently, this Brian Hartline guy isn’t so bad at nabbing top-flight wide receivers. 

RELATEDFour-star Missouri Wide Receiver Jeremiah McClellan Commits to Ohio State

The Buckeyes landed another potential impact player on Sunday with the commitment of Jeremiah McClellan, giving them three receivers in total committed for 2024 in addition to five-star prospects Jeremiah Smith and Mylan Graham. 

Following the commitment of McClellan, Ohio State football staffers and commits each took to social media to welcome the Missouri product to the 2024 class. We’ve compiled some of their reactions below.

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