It definitely doesn't make the headline as attention-getting though; I see his point. I wouldn't call the headline as written click-baity or sensational but a headline of "Ex-NDSU QB, graduate assistant Zeb Nowland to start for South Carolina" probably paints a better picture of the situation.
As written, you can kind of be led to believe that he's a GA off the street who never played football before or hasn't played in years, which isn't accurate. He did start last year, but only because it was a flukish Spring COVID schedule.