Sports

Monroe stars Noel, Potts make it official

• The Tornadoes’ David Noel signs with Georgia Southern, while DeMarcus Potts will play for ASU.

Scott Chancey

ALBANY — Monroe lineman David Noel’s Myspace.com page says it all: “02/06/2008 @ 10 A.M. is the beginning of my life!!”

With his life on the prep football field behind him, the star signed his National Letter of Intent — setting up his life in college football — with Georgia Southern on Wednesday. His teammate, linebacker DeMarcus Potts, then signed with SIAC runner-up Albany State.

“It’s a relief,” Noel said after he signed, “a big relief.”

Considering that Georgia Southern lost 22 seniors from last season’s team and will lose 28 after this upcoming campaign, the chances of Noel playing early seem strong.

In fact, he might even start.

“They said I could choose between playing offensive line or defensive line and I at first chose defensive line,” said Noel, who had 61 tackles including 12 for loss, five sacks, five fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles last season. “But they lost the entire offensive line, so if I can help them there, I will.”

Monroe coach Charles Truitt also believes Noel has a chance of starting early.

“I believe he can even start his first year,” said Truitt, who was defensive coordinator on two state championship teams at what then was known as Americus High School “He’s got a chance to make a big impact.”

If Noel is needed on the offensive line, Georgia Southern coach Chris Hatcher’s “Hatch Attack” could get plenty of protection for the quarterback, considering that Noel had 65 pancakes and graded out at 95 percent.

As for Potts, who had 50 tackles (including 10 for loss), an interception and two fumble recoveries last season at Monroe, he said coach Mike White’s Rams are interested in him playing at middle linebacker.

Considering that two of the Rams’ starting linebackers from last year, Roderick Cummings and Ryan Davis, were seniors, the Rams became that much more attractive to Potts. And on top of that, White —who was an NFL defensive lineman — has veteran experience as head coach since the 2000 season.

“I like to go where a coach knows what he’s doing,” Potts said. “He’s been there instead of just being a first-year coach.”

Now that both Noel and Potts know where they are playing next year, the most stressful part of the experience is behind them.

“I was nervous before (Wednesday), but now we’re just ready to go to the next level,” Potts said.

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