Football star Devine leaves Deion, returns to North
Coach would welcome troubled player back

The News-Press has learned that former Southwest Florida football star Noel Devine has returned to North Fort Myers. Devine, 17, who emerged as a top college football prospect in thenation as a sophomore at North Fort Myers High School in 2004, was living in Prosper, Texas, with NFL star Deion Sanders and his family. Sanders is a North Fort Myers graduate.Sanders, who plays for the Baltimore Ravens, was in the process of taking over legal guardianship of Devine. Devine's grandmother, Lee Bertha Thomas, is currently the legal guardian.Sanders told The News-Press that Devine drove himself to the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport Monday and boarded a plane headed to Fort Myers, leaving the keys to Sanders’ SUV in the vehicle. - College Football -
“We were really in a state of shock,” Sanders said. “We couldn’t believe it. I wish we saw a sign but there was nothing. He was wonderful. Now I understand what his grandma was going through for years. Some people don’t want to be helped.”Sanders called Thomas Monday night and informed her that Devine had flown back.Thomas went to the North Fort Myers home of Robert and Liz Harlow and found Devine there. - College Football -
Thomas also said she had a chance encounter with Devine at North Fort Myers High this morning. She said he was headed to the School Choice office with Liz Harlow. Devine had been temporarily living with the Harlow family of North Fort Myers before leaving for Texas.According to the Lee County School District's public information office, Devine is currently listed on the enrollment books as a student at North Fort Myers High School.North Fort Myers football coach James Iandoli said no one has told him Devine is officially back at the school. If Devine does indeed return to North, however, Iandoli said he would welcome him back to the football team.“There’s no ill will,” Iandoli said. - College Football -
“Everybody I’m sure would be looking forward to his return.”Devine, who’ll be a junior this season, left Fort Myers July 29. He enrolled at Prosper (Texas) High, under the guardianship of Sanders, who had Thomas’ blessing to adopt the blue-chip tailback. Sanders was working with lawyers in Texas to take over guardianship. “It’ll be complete Friday,” Sanders said. “But I’m not going to fight those people. I have five kids that I have to manage. I did everything that God told me to do. At this point, it becomes a choice of his. If he doesn’t want to make that decision, I just pray for him and wish him the best. - College Football -
”Thomas sounded frustrated with the latest developments.“He’s got seven months before he’s 18,” said Thomas, adding that she won’t stand in Devine’s way. “I’m tired of being humiliated. I’m not going to keep going through it with him.”Devine spent one day in Texas before leaving with Sanders for the Ravens’ training camp in Maryland on July 31. Sanders said his Baltimore teammates took to Devine right away. Devine helped out at practice, spotting the ball, and received individual attention after workouts from Sanders and Baltimore coaches. Devine also met with former University of Miami tailback Clinton Portis during the Ravens’ scrimmage against Washington.“He was one of the best kids you’d ever want to meet,” Sanders said. “I was proud to call him my son. He and my 11-year-old son were like two amigos, getting ready for their seasons. He was a great kid.”Devine returned to Texas Sunday and spent time with his new teammates at Prosper.“Some of the kids went out to eat and lifted weights together,” Prosper coach John Pease told The News-Press Tuesday afternoon. “They all went by a coach’s house Sunday and even a father of one of my players said (Noel) was ready to get started and put the pads on and was ready to go. My quarterback told me the same story.”But Devine was a no-show Monday for what would’ve been his first practice with the team, having departed for Florida hours earlier. He found his way to the airport from Sanders’ home – a 45-minute drive – where Sanders suspects a prepaid ticket was waiting. - College Football -
Attempts to reach Devine and the Harlows were unsuccessful.Thomas questioned his decision to reject a new start. “He said he didn’t want to go,” Thomas said. “He should’ve made it known. He had a choice. He didn’t give it a good chance.”Sanders said it’d be difficult to trust Devine again to welcome him back. “You just hope and pray that one day a light goes on in his head and he understands the opportunity he had. God bless him, but he’s jeopardizing my family now and that’s an issue. - College Football -

Deron Snyder