Air Noland, South Carolina’s portal QB signee, was promised just one thing by Beamer

Earlier this week, Ohio State transfer quarterback Air Noland signed with South Carolina and the prevailing question was simple: Why?

Why would a former four-star quarterback who seemingly entered the portal because he wasn’t playing transfer to a place with a young starting quarterback already on the roster? Certainly he had some assurance?

Maybe that he’d back up LaNorris Sellers right away? Or that he’d be the starter once Sellers enters the NFL Draft — whether that’s after next year or later in the future?

There had to be some promises — right?

Apparently not.

Following a Cheez-It Citrus Bowl practice Friday, South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer said he made it very clear to Noland that there would be no guarantees.

Well, OK, just one.

“I didn’t promise Air anything but the opportunity to compete,” Beamer said. “Didn’t promise him the backup job. Nothing.”

Noland entered the transfer portal in mid-December after not recording a stat in his only season at Ohio State.

Beamer noted that Noland reached out to South Carolina director of player personnel Darren Uscher about possibly joining the Gamecocks. Uscher approached Beamer, asking if he remembered who Noland was. Absolutely, Beamer responded. Well, Uscher informed the head coach, he’s interested in visiting South Carolina.

“Was really impressed with him and his family,” Beamer said. “He spent two days with us and walked around with a notebook and literally took notes on every single thing we were talking to him about. He’s very mature, very professional.”

He also adds depth to a room that desperately needs it. Yes, Sellers will return in 2025 as a redshirt sophomore, possibly with some Heisman hype after a freshman campaign that included over 2,300 yards passing and 700 yards on the ground.

But — prior to Noland’s signing — the Gamecocks had just two other scholarship quarterbacks on the roster heading into next season: redshirt freshman Dante Reno and true freshman Cutter Woods.

“It’s scary when you only have three (scholarship quarterbacks),” Beamer said. “So we wanted to increase the competition in that room, just like every position. (And) we’ve been honest and forthright.”

This is now the second straight year that Beamer has been very vocal about the fact that he won’t promise a starting spot to any transfers — especially quarterbacks.

Last season, while the Gamecocks were looking around the portal for a QB, the USC coaches spoke with plenty of guys and hosted a number of visits. But a majority, Beamer said, were looking for an assurance of the starting job. The Gamecocks head coach consistently declined to make that promise.

“We talk about competition in this building at all times. It’s on the walls in this building,” Beamer said last December. “I’ve never told a player, ‘I’m guaranteeing you a starting job.’ Never will. Because the minute I do, I’m a complete frickin’ fraud as a head coach in that.”

The Gamecocks ended up landing Auburn transfer QB Robby Ashford in January and the veteran had no qualms about going to a program without guarantees. Ashford did not win the starting job, but was a solid backup and is now back in the transfer portal while remaining with USC through the Citrus Bowl.

Just like Ashford, Noland was just fine with competition being the lone promise.

“If you love to compete, you’re going to love being a part of this program,” Beamer said. “If you don’t love to compete, you’re not going to make it very long in our program.”

South Carolina’s transfer portal additions for 2025

• QB — Air Noland (Ohio State)

• OL — Nick Sharpe (Wake Forest)

• OL — Rodney Newsom Jr. (Western Kentucky)

• TE — Jordan Dingle (Kentucky)

• Edge — Jaylen Brown (Missouri)

• DT — Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy (Texas A&M)

• LB — Shawn Murphy (FSU)

• CB — Myles Norwood (Ball State)