Waking Noel Devine - Sports Blog - The FanHouse

It wasn't that good of a , but it was the first thing to pop into my head when it comes to one of the potentially biggest impact kids in this year's recruiting class.

Or he could just be one of the greatest "what ifs?" There are .

, the uber-talented -- and ultra-troubled, quiet, misunderstood, disturbed (just choose one or all the adjectives) has apparently decided that .

Kind of a surprise since he was not expected to make up his mind until later in the month. Of course, he still has to sign the Letter of Intent, so wait and see.

He is one of the top high school players, that .

According to Rivals.com, the nationally rated five-star speedster rushed for 2,148 yards and 31 touchdowns as a senior last fall.

Mike Farrell, Rivals.

com recruiting analyst, said, "He's the best high school player I've ever seen, and that includes Reggie Bush."

Jamie Newberg of Scout.com said, "You look at him on film, your jaw drops.

It's like watching Barry Sanders."

The thing about Devine that makes him more intriguing is that to the sites or really anyone about his plans.

Devine is, as SuperPrep's Allen Wallace calls him, "an enigma within an enigma.

"
"A recruit who's that notable and has that much exposure ...

would normally generate tremendous interest," said Wallace, "but the recruiting world has been literally held at bay by our inability to ever speak with him. It's his right to do that, but it's very unusual. Usually kids want publicity.

"
That part is easy to accept. It almost sounds refreshing. The rest of his baggage is much scarier.

From his past -- both parents died from AIDS and watching a friend be murdered a couple years ago. How does that not mess anyone up? He was in Texas before taking one of Sanders' Escalades to the airport and hopping a flight back to Florida.

Then there are (were?) the issues of his grades. Prep school looked more likely than anything else.

If he is planning to go to WVU, he has to be qualified. Last year, the . So, even if he signs the LOI tomorrow or next week he still has to get the grades and the SAT/ACT scores.

The grades he might have, but it comes down to getting a high enough SAT or ACT score.
Finally, there's the issue of how durable he will be at the college level. Whether his 5-8, 170 pound frame can take the beating.

How much bulk can he really add without being significantly slowed.

Still, if he makes it onto the field and into the Mountaineer backfield in 2007. Can there be anything more terrifying for the rest of the Big East and defensive coordinators then Steve Slaton and Noel Devine in the backfield with Pat White under center?

They might not throw the ball for entire games.

Here's just one of the .