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Why a Georgia city once named a day in a Memphis quarterback’s honor

By , Daily Memphian Published: April 19, 2026 4:00 AM CT

People had been in awe of Air Noland’s talent since he was 9 years old.

A highly sought-after athlete who was a talented quarterback and basketball player, Noland was already the talk of the town in South Fulton, Georgia, by the time he was around 13.

Langston Hughes High football wasn’t known for its achievements when Noland entered as a freshman in 2020. By the time he graduated in 2024, the Panthers had won their first-ever football state championship while appearing in back-to-back title games.

The mayor of South Fulton had even named an official day — May 15, 2023 — after the current Memphis Tigers quarterback: Prentiss “Air” Noland Appreciation Day. (Prentiss is Noland’s formal first name.) 

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Frank Bonner II

Frank Bonner II

Frank Bonner II covers the Memphis Tigers. He is a top-10 APSE winner who covered Oklahoma State for the Tulsa World before joining The Daily Memphian in 2021. Bonner is a native of Indiana, where he started his career covering high school sports.


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