I’ve watched and rewatched the latest Noel Devine clip — this is a sad little hobby, if you didn’t already know — and though I wasn’t sure it was possible, I’m further convinced he’s a transcendent individual you won’t see too often. The skills, the background, the maturation, so on and so forth, you’re just kind of lucky to be witnessing it and only at the halfway point.

Anyhow, five things I note watching this. Well, make it six, five of which are new:

1) These are old observations, but they still apply: The first guy never gets Noel and the sideline makes a ton of tackles. On the latter, it’s as if in pursuit the defender goes, “Screw this, I’m pushing him out.”

(1:52 mark … Jarrett Brown almost kills a Marshall defender) 

2) 2:15 … I can’t be sure, but I’m going to say his teammates were flat-out relieved Devine scored the 92-yard touchdown run against Syracuse. Watch them celebrate and tell me they’re not saying/thinking, “Oh, thank God. That was too close.”

3) WVU went with four and five receivers against Auburn and, I’ll admit, I wondered why against that speed on defense. Then Noel shredded the spread-out Tigers defense.

4) 4:00 … “Here’s Noel Devine and see you later.” Admit it, you thought that play was a touchdown. I did. Then Louisville corner Johnny Patrick comes from the other side of the field and somehow catches Noel. That’s one of my favorite plays ever.

5) As the clip progresses, so, too, does the season. You hardly see any of the improvised zig-zag runs (Colorado, Marshall) that turn into big plays. What you do see is Noel making the first move count and getting north as quickly as possible. That’s a big change in his style and what’s made him such a better runner. Oh, he can still improvise and beat a defense, but he tends to run to space first and then make something happen if its available.

6) There’s no one example — though maybe the collission with Mickens (4:43) would be a good one — but Noel doesn’t often shy from contact. Not to say he did before, but he was sometimes more prone to run away from conflict in an attempt to make a greater play. Now he takes what’s there, even if it means taking someone on and he’s definitely strong enough to shake arm tackles (5:12)