The Best High School Football Player Since Barry Sanders.

 The next Barry Sanders?

Take a deep breath because you haven't heard a story like this in a long, long time.  High school running back Noel Devine is being called the best high school running back ever.  Better than Reggie Bush.  But there is a story, a long story behind all that is Noel Devine.  When you think about the best college and high school football players, what do you think about?  Players coming from good family backgrounds?  Some coming from tough neighborhoods?  You have not heard a story like this one until now, I promise you that. 

As a senior for North Fort Myers High School in Florida this past fall, Noel Devine ran for 2,148 yards and 31 touchdowns.  He is a tiny 5'7 and is 'lightning in a bottle' as one recruiting website has put it.  He comes from an unfathomable background.  Both his parents died from complications from AIDS.  His father when he was 3, his mother when he was 11.  His grandmother took him in and lived with her for a few years.  The two didn't get along so he moved in with a Pop Warner teammates' family. 

Heard enough?  We are just getting started.

His grades in school are not at the top of the class and he has been looking at Prep Schools.  For those of you who don't know high school sports, if you are a top athlete who isn't able to get into a Division 1 school academically, you go to a Prep School to raise your grades so you can go the next year.  Devine is completely terrified by the attention he is getting and hardly ever speaks to reporters, college coaches, etc.  In 2004, he moved in with Deion Sanders and his family in Dallas.  A few days after being there, Devine took the keys to Sanders' Cadillac Escalade and drove himself to the airport and flew back 'home' to Florida.  He moved in with his girlfriends parents.

There can't be more, can there?  Oh yes, there can. 

Devine at 18 has two children so some college coaches have come to the conclusion they might not ever see the electric football player on any campus.....ever.  His high school coaches say his grades aren't as bad as they are made out to be.  The schools Devine have visited recently include West Virignia (this weekend supposedly) and Alabama.  Bobby Bowden at Florida State, who has needed a great running back to help the Seminoles passing game for years, has been hounding Devine as of late.  Devine is rumored to be taking a recruiting visit to Tallahassee next weekend. 

 'Lightning in a bottle' is Mr. Noel Devine.

The National Signing Day for College Football is next Wednesday, February 7th.  The best player in high school football will probably not be signing a letter-of-intent that day.  Hopefully, Devine will be signing one some day soon because after all he has been through, some of which has been brought on by himself, he deserves a shot to make it big.  And I for one would love to see this kid make it.