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You knew who he was before he did, as he broke onto the scene as a high school freshman with eye-popping, jaw-dropping performances posted online for the world to see...

Oh, So Devine: YouTube Legend Noel Coming of Age in Morgantown

by Scott Rieger (Analyst)

45

1425 reads

Opinion

October 24, 2008


You knew who he was before he did, as he broke onto the scene as a high school freshman with eye-popping, jaw-dropping performances posted online for the world to see. He became an overnight sensation thanks to YouTube (see below) and about 200,000 viewers.

The 5'8", 175-pound tailback ran for 2,148 rushing yards and 31 touchdowns in his senior year of high school. With the success came comparisons to Barry Sanders and praise from the likes of Deion Sanders, who once told a reporter at SI.com, "I haven't seen the gift he has in a lot of NFL players in my life, and that's saying a lot."

The diminutive Noel Devine is a dynamo, with blazing speed and freakish strength that don't seem to match his stature. It all makes for some exciting and unbelievable videos, but to dig deeper into who Devine really is and where he came from makes the story all the more special.

Devine lost both of his parents to complications due to AIDS by the time he was 12 and was taken in by his grandmother in North Fort Myers, Florida. That particular area of Florida is pretty rough, and avoiding trouble can prove difficult, even for youngsters from stable households.

Devine's wasn't. After staying with his grandma for a short time, he decided she was too strict and moved in with a teammate and his parents. Shortly thereafter, Devine fathered two children by different mothers within a seven-month time frame. In 2004, he witnessed the death of one of his friends while trying to settle a dispute with some other kids.

This string of events would've been tough on anyone, but his high school coach, James Iandoli, decided to intervene. Iandoli and other school officials contacted a North Fort Myers legend in NFL star Deion Sanders, who was with the Baltimore Ravens at the time. Sanders got to know Devine and offered to let him live at his home in Dallas, giving him more structure and respite from the trouble lurking at home. 

Devine agreed, but missed home too much and returned a week later.

He also had a tough time qualifying for the NCAA, which led some big programs like Florida State to back off of him, but Devine was determined and eventually did qualify. He chose to attend West Virginia.

All things considered, it's amazing that Devine made it that far and is actually a very good and polite person, according to those who know him. A reporter for the News-Press who covered Devine's high school career, Dan DeLuca, has stated that Noel is a polite, enigmatic, media-shy guy who has been "around a lot of trouble, but not really in a lot of trouble."

Some people have been critical of Devine and have already written him off as a talented kid that couldn't escape the hood, but so far he has turned the table.

His freshman year at WVU let people know that he was legit. He posted 627 yards on only 73 carries, oftentimes blazing past helpless defenders on his way to the end zone. He had six touchdowns as a freshman but also had two long runs that fell short of the end zone, at the 1-yd line, each that a teammate finished off.

This was more impressive due to the fact that he was sharing a backfield that already had two Heisman Trophy candidates in it—running back Steve Slaton and quarterback Pat White. Devine averaged 8.6 yards per carry as a freshman. 

White is still in Morgantown with Devine, while Slaton has gone on to impress in the NFL with the Houston Texans.

This year has gone well, with Devine logging a lot more carries and becoming a workhorse back for the Mountaineers. Again, unbelievable for a guy with Devine's size. After a couple of slow starts against Villanova and East Carolina, Devine has gone off, logging 100 yards or more on the ground in four of five games. 

Last week, he exploded against Syracuse for a career high 188 yards on 17 carries, including an impressive 92-yard score, only to follow that up with a new career high Friday night in a 34-17 shellacking of Auburn, which included a 36-yard jaunt to the end zone.

With upcoming games against Connecticut, Cincinnati, Louisville, Pittsburgh and an end-of-season game against South Florida, Devine should post well over 1,000 yards for his sophomore season.

Rest assured, Noel Devine has arrived. He's the man in WVU and far away from his past. He is, without a doubt, one of the most exciting players to watch in college football, and I will be watching him, very interested and hopeful that I see him make it to the bigtime one day.

After all he's been through, he deserves it.

Author Poll

Who is the most exciting college athlete today?

  • Noel Devine, West Virginia
  • Percy Harvin, Florida
  • Tim Tebow, Florida
  • Jeremy Maclin, Missouri
  • Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech
  • Sam McGuffie, Michigan
  • Other
vote to see results
Author Poll Results

Who is the most exciting college athlete today?

  • Noel Devine, West Virginia

    88.0%

  • Percy Harvin, Florida

    2.9%

  • Tim Tebow, Florida

    1.9%

  • Jeremy Maclin, Missouri

    0.5%

  • Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech

    1.9%

  • Sam McGuffie, Michigan

    1.9%

  • Other

    2.9%
  • Total votes: 208
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45 comments Last one added 8 months ago — Leave a Comment

  1. Craig Garrison Sr 8 months ago

    It looked downright unfair against Auburn last night, he was easily the quickest, fastest guy on the field. Auburn's defense looked stuck in the mud everytime he had the ball in his hands.

    I do wonder just how well his skill set/size will translate into the NFL though, there have been others like him and not done very well.

    I certainly hope it goes well for him when the time comes though!

    Nice piece Scott!

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  2. John Lorge 8 months ago

    Youtube legend is right.. how about that HS spin move. This kid is for real tho, he will be a return man and great shared back in the NFL. Everyone will say "hes too small" around draft time then will flip flop and call him amazing.

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    • Scott Rieger 8 months ago

      I agree. If I had to compare him to somebody currently in the NFL, I couldn't do it. I would say he's a combination of Maurice Jones-Drew, Reggie Bush and Devin Hester with room to improve.

      In high school though, and this is crazy, he reminds me so much of Barry Sanders its ridiculous. Of course, Barry was much thicker in the legs at 5'8" 203lbs, but they are eerily similar at relative stages of their careers. I have some old footage of Barry at Wichita North in that red #3 jersey flying past people and juking and spinning all over the place just like the Devine footage. Also, Barry had such a low center of gravity that he was able to break countless tackles just like Devine does in the videos. It's striking really. The 92 yard run Devine had against Syracuse was crazy...he was gone as soon as he cut it up the sideline...just silly.

      I think he'll be great if he can stay on the right path off the field.

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  3. Jeff Little 8 months ago

    Good Article, Scott and an excellent read. Dude is a Youtube legend. That is how I first noticed the guy. He is a tremendous talent that has turned his life around with some assistance but it is great to see someone work toward bettering themselves and getting out of bad situations. He made the Auburn defense appear to be stuck in neutral on several occasions. You always hear that he is too small for the NFL but he has the skill to make the jump even at his size which isn't that much smaller than say Darren Sproles. I hope he makes the leap and continues to put on a show.

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    • Scott Rieger 8 months ago

      Thanks for the take Jeff and you're right. People are always trying to play Mel Kiper Jr. and be SuperScout online...granted some are spot on but for the most part they tow the company line...

      You know...This guys a great college QB but won't make it in the pros (Joe Montana, 3rd Round)

      This guy is way too small or thin to make it...etc. (Barry Sanders, 1st Round, M. Jones-Drew, Sproles, Portis, etc.)

      Fact is, they have no idea. They are guessing like everyone else. I do it to but I tend to look at someones performance over time and how they play the game. For instance, one of my favorite players ever was Chris Spielman (yeah, I know he's a Buckeye too but I don't hold that against him). He was the Lombardi Trophy winner, a two time All-American and slipped to the Lions in the 2nd Round because he didn't have prototypical size/speed. Numerous Pro Bowls later, he's one of the best LB's ever to play for Detroit.

      Anyways, I hope Devine does well also. I'm really rooting for this young man.

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  4. John Graham 8 months ago

    Good post. I did not know much about him other than the obvious talent he showcases on Saturdays. It is always a relief to see a troubled youth rise about his experiences and stand out among his peers. Especially in a time where the media is flooded with icons like Pacman Jones, Michael Vick, and the ever-persistent O.J. Simpson. Thanks for letting me know about your post and i hope you enjoy mine as much as i have enjoyed yours.

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    • Scott Rieger 8 months ago

      John,

      Thanks alot. It's definitely refreshing to see someone making something out of nothing instead of accepting failure and then using a bad situation as a crutch or excuse for failing. That to me, says more about Noel than anything he does on the football field.

      Thanks again.

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  5. Ryan 8 months ago

    How they haven't been giving him 20 touches a game this year is beyond me. The kid is legit and would scare the daylights out of me if I had to line up against him.

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    • Scott Rieger 8 months ago

      I agree. They are giving him close to 20 most games but I think it has to do with the system and having a QB that can run too. Pat White gets alot of carries each game as well so that is probably the reason.

      Luckily for us Michigan fans, McGuffie has similar ability although I think he's a few notches shy of Devine's talent.

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    • Ryan 8 months ago

      Too bad poor McGuff can't help but get squashed behind our porous offensive line..

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  6. Joe Young 8 months ago

    He reminds me of Gerald McNeil who used to play for the Cleveland Browns. As a mountaineer fan, I am thankful that he graced us by coming here. Hopefully he stays through his senior year.

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    • Scott Rieger 8 months ago

      Joe,

      There is always the possibility that he'll leave after his Junior year, if he has a monster campaign, because he does have a family to support but just enjoy him while he's there man because talents like that don't come along everyday.

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  7. Zach Kruse 8 months ago

    He has such amazing acceleration, he goes from stopped to full speed faster then anyone since Barry Sanders. Once he starts learning all the intricacies of the game, he should be a top 15 pick. But I think he should stay all 4 years to learn it all

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  8. Shawn Withrow 8 months ago

    Great article. Devine is a phenomenal running back. I can't believe how easy he changes direction and when he gets going he is gone. His ability to start and stop, twist and turn on a dime is very Barry Sanders like. He is one of those few players who is a real threat to take it all the way for a touchdown on any play that he touches the football. I am glad he has been able to come through adversity and find a home in Morgantown. Mountaineer fans love this guy, and even those who don't like WVU still have to admit he is really special.

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    • Scott Rieger 8 months ago

      Shawn, thanks for stopping by. I second everything you said. BTW, your high school names article was hilarious. My fav's were the Yuma Criminals, the Flying Flucos and the Poca Dots....I'd pay money to attend a pep rally at the Poca Dots gymnasium.

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  9. Angel Navedo 8 months ago

    I'm not really a fan of college football, but this was a well-written profile. I recall seeing some of these clips on YouTube in the past. Hopefully he can stay injury-free and light it up in the pros. He looks like a man amongst boys in HS, despite his small stature. Should be fun if he makes it to the pros.

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    • Scott Rieger 8 months ago

      Thanks Angel, I appreciate the read and the comments. I grew up in Florida and everyone was talking about Noel down there when the videos started to surface. He has a chance to be special if he stays healthy and out of trouble.

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  10. Dan Parzych 8 months ago

    Awesome job here Scott. That was probably one of the best profile's on an athlete I've read in a long time. I've watched Devine play a few times this year but I had no idea he went through everything he did at the beginning of his life. The fact that he is able to bounce back after everything he has been through is a heart-warming story. His height and weight remind me a lot of Brian Westbrook and Warrick Dunn. It's guys like them that show athletes that you can dominate no matter what your size. Keep up the good work!

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    • Scott Rieger 8 months ago

      Thanks Dan, I appreciate it. Funny that you mention Warrick Dunn, because he also was a good young man that was dealing with a lot of drama when he was in college. I don't remember all the specifics but I believe he was essentially taking care of his siblings while in College.

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  11. Conrad Krasyk 8 months ago

    Scott,

    I really enjoyed your article about Noel. Those of us that are Mountaineer fans and live here in West Virginia think he is one very special young man. It is refreshing for us to see some one rise above the temptations and problems and fullfil the obvious destiney that has been given to him. He reminds of a great ex-Mountaineer from my youth; a guy by the name of Danny Buggs. Buggs went on to have a great career in the NFL with the Washington Redskins and he wasn't much bigger than Noel. Keep up the great articles and I am going to add you to my favorites list.

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    • Scott Rieger 8 months ago

      Conrad, thanks alot. I haven't had the privilege of seeing Buggs as he was well before my time, although I know a lot of Skins fans so i'll ask about him. Thanks again for the read.

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  12. Buddy Smith 8 months ago

    Hey Scott I liked this one a lot.

    You did a great job of painting a portrait of the human being.

    Keep em coming.

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    • Scott Rieger 8 months ago

      Buddy, thanks man. It means alot coming from you since you are one of the more respected writers on here. I appreciate it.

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  13. Max Tcheyan 8 months ago

    Great article Scott...Devine is really an interesting/incredible player with a devastating past where he has had a lot to overcome. I'll continue to watch his career as it unfolds.

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    • Scott Rieger 8 months ago

      Thanks Max, I'll certainly be watching too. I can't lie, I'm hoping my Detroit Lions are fortunate enough to end up with him one day....lol.

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  14. Nick The Only 8 months ago

    Devine is really good. I remember that Florida recruited him too, but he had grades issues. Its ok that he went to WVU because Florida made out pretty well with Chris Rainey (who beat Devine in a 40 yard dash) and Jeff "FATE" Demps (FATE = Fastest American Teenager Ever).

    Devine is probably the shiftiest of all 3 backs and possesses the best balance. FATE is the fastest. Rainey is a great all around RB too. Rainey had similar stats to Devine in high school (2,173 yds - 24 TD). Devine, Demps and Rainey are almost the same size too, 5'8 or 5'9" and 175-185 lbs. Watching Devine got me excited for Florida's game this weekend. GET THEM IN SPACE!

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    • Nick The Only 8 months ago

      Also, they're all Florida boys.

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    • Scott Rieger 8 months ago

      Nick, thanks for the comments. I agree that the other backs are also very good, in fact, I got to watch a few of Rainey's games at Lakeland High in person because I was living right up the road in Riverview. He's very talented as well. Demps is crazy fast but I think he is the least polished running back as he relied almost solely on his speed in high school. With some coaching though, he could be something as well. You know how we do it down in Florida, the football is supreme, the speed is supreme and the athletes are some of the best in the Nation.

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  15. Jim Sheridan 8 months ago

    Great article Scott, Im a ND fan but I was absolutely amazed at Sam Mc Guffie against. % Stars

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  1. Michael Cline 8 months ago

    Nice job Scott. I've enjoyed watching Devine all season. Glad to see someone give credit where credit is due. Keep it up.

    5*, POTD

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  2. Lisa Horne 8 months ago

    Nice job! Devine has the most amazing field vision and balance. I'm not sure his size will be a selling point in the NFL, we all know they like the 6-0, 220 lb prototype RB, but he has shown he can take big hits. That video was kewl!

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    • Scott Rieger 8 months ago

      Lisa, thanks for stopping by. Yeah, there will be questions about his size for sure, which will almost certainly make him slip a bit in the draft, but whomever takes him will be happy. If you look at todays NFL game, there is a place for smaller guys. Sproles, Jones-Drew, Warrick Dunn and DeAngelo Williams come to mind.

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  3. Mary Jo Buchanan 8 months ago

    WVU my passion. Good article.

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    • Scott Rieger 8 months ago

      Thanks Mary Jo, I can certainly relate to your passion as I am the same about my Michigan Wolverines. Thanks for stopping by.

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  4. Thalmus Thomas 8 months ago

    Beautiful, Beautiful article. I defintely enjoyed this one...

    I too was drawn towards Noel by Youtube. I was watching the Reggie Bush mixtape in HS and saw the Devine video in the related tab, it was titled... Noel Divine* sickest running back ever. I said in my head "yeah right lemme see what this guy is talkin about" and from that day on my jaw is still dropping. He continues to impress me. It doesn't take rocket scientology to see that this guy is other wordly.

    And I am convinced that this guy is the absolute BEST RB in the Country. Not because I like WVU, but I've seen it all. I'm not a proffessional scout or analyst, but Noel Devine is a once in a lifetime talent. Nobody in the country can accelerate like Devine, maybe Harvin, but it looks like a glitch on the tv screen whenever he gets the ball. Like in a scary movie when people move all sudden and jerky like.

    Another thing that I've seen from Devine that just blows my mind is how he uses the Defenders' momentum against themselves. I can't really explain it, but it's like he relaxes for a little once contact is established and the defender just whiffs and falls off of him. Like in the Maryland game when he spun off of the facemask, or the marshall game this year when he broke that last tackle. He actually stops from full speed, the defender lunges towards him and he lets the defender with all his momentum just go.

    I completely agree with you when you talk about how eerily similar he is to Barry Sanders. Check out my article I wrote about Devine winning the heisman if you have the time. (It's a little goofy and yes I know he can't win, but it's whatever)

    http://bleacherreport.com/articles/39943-noel-devine-heisman-theory-coincidence-or-fate

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    • Scott Rieger 8 months ago

      Thalmus,

      Thanks for stopping by and for the compliments. There are a few backs in the game right now that are probably better from a complete back standpoint, you know, rushing, receiving, and blocking; but I don't think there is a better runner.

      I will argue against anyone that Barry Sanders was the best running back ever, however, I also conceded that while he was adept and catching and blocking, he wasn't the best in those areas. So, if the question is, who was the best complete back ever, Barry isn't it, he's only the best pure back ever if that makes sense.

      Devine is up against the same thing. He's probably the best comination of speed, quickness, acceleration and vision in the game, but he will need to get better in the other facets of the game to truly cement his name in people's memory. I think he can do it but we'll see.

      As for your article, I don't think Devine could win this year but I see no reason he couldn't win one before he's done in WV.

      I appreciate your comments.

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  5. Ben Spicer 8 months ago

    As I've heard many say, YouTube video mixes "can make anyone look good". Noel Devine is a Chuck Norris sensation of jokes waiting to happen, because people don't make him look good... he just is that good!

    He's going to have a better career than Slaton, if you ask me. Possibly a Heisman winning career before his days in Blue and Gold in Morgantown are numbered.

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    • Scott Rieger 8 months ago

      Thanks for your take Ben and I agree that Devine is the "real deal". WVU will have to utilize him a bit more though if he's gonna get the heisman, especially in the passing game. You can't win the heisman with 12-20 carries and only 1 or 2 receptions a game. They need to find more ways to get the ball in his hands.

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  6. RG Yoho 8 months ago

    Great article!

    Noel Devine has lived through trials that most of us can only imagine. It is simply amazing that he is as good a kid as he is!

    I do get irritated at those who seem to rooting for his failure. Every one of us should be pulling for this young man to succeed in football and in life. I would hate to see anymore names added to the growing list of great athletes who have squandered their talent and ruined their lives!

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  7. Kara Martin 8 months ago

    Wow Scott, what a life this guy has gone through. It is the kind of thing that shatters life that it is hard to recover from, but he turned it all around. What an amazing story and a true inspirational guy! Thank you so much for letting me know about it, you have a real talent for writing, I'm loving it!

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