“Dude was a stud in college”: CFB fans react as West Virginia hires former Mountaineers star RB Noel Devine to the staff

The West Virginia Mountaineers have added their former star running back, Noel Devine, to their coaching staff. The former standout running back amassed 4,315 rushing yards and 29 rushing touchdowns during his time with the Mountaineers.

Devine's addition is a popular choice among college football fans.

"The single greatest high school highlight film there ever was. Good for him getting back to the game," a fan tweeted.

"One of my favorite RBs to watch growing up!" Another tweeted.

However, not all reactions were extra positive.

"Hard to get rid of someone that is bad if they are so loved in a program. I don't agree with hires like this," a fan tweeted.

"Interesting," another tweeted.

What will Noel Devine bring to West Virginia in 2025?

Noel Devine is one of the greatest running backs in West Virginia's history. He joined the program after an impressive high school career at North Fort Myers High School in Florida. Devine was a high school phenomenon and earned scholarship offers from the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Alabama Crimson Tide, FSU and other high-caliber programs. Still, he ultimately chose the West Virginia Mountaineers.

Devine spent four seasons with the Mountaineers and played 51 games for the program. He recorded two 1,000-plus rushing yards seasons and was a threat as a receiver and return specialist. He joined the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent after the 2011 NFL Draft but never played a game for the franchise.

While it's unclear what Devine's role will be on the Mountaineers, his presence will be a plus for the program. He is a program legend and was part of an exciting era for West Virginia football.

He's expected to work with the program's running backs and the rest of its offensive players. The Mountaineers ended the 2024 regular season with a 6-6 record before they lost the Scooter's Coffee Frisco Bowl to the Memphis Tigers. It'll be interesting to see how the program reworks the roster via the transfer portal and high school recruitment.