Family reunion for Rodman Noel

It figures that a staff significantly made up of former Boston College coaches and players would recruit the state of Massachusetts for NC State.

The Pack has two players who will have a homecoming trip Saturday at Boston College, and for true freshman safety Rodman Noel, it will be a family reunion of sorts. Noel's older brother Jim Noel is a starting junior defensive back for BC.

The Noels are an athletic family. Jim Noel started eight games in 2010 and the first eight games of the 2011 season before missing the Florida State contest with a shoulder injury. His status for Saturday is unknown. Noel has 30 tackles, including three for loss and a sack, an interception, pass breakup and quarterback hurry this year.

Jim and Rodman Noel are similar heights. Jim is 6-4, 185 while Rodman measures 6-3, 206. Rodman has played almost exclusively on special teams this fall, seeing 62 snaps on the unit in seven games and making one knockdown block.

Both Jim and Rodman played football at Everett (Mass.) High. Rodman actually signed with Maryland in 2010 but prepped a year at Milford Academy in New Berlin, N.Y., and switched his pledge to NC State.

Younger brother Nerlens Noel is a 6-10, 200-pound center in basketball at Tilton (N.H.) High and regarded as the top prospect at his position and the No. 3 player in the 2013 class by Rivals.com.

"I have been waiting for this week the whole season," Rodman Noel admitted. "It's going to be a nice time to see my family and friends and play against my brother."

Noel has managed to scrape up about 15 tickets for the game from teammates, and between his collection and his brother's, there is a good chance the two will have about 50 family and friends at the game.

Noel admitted that the trash talking with his brother started before this week. The two talk at least twice a week and then once more the night before every game. Jim Noel's advice to his younger brother has always been simple.

"He just told me about the college game, and how college is played at a fast pace, just keep focused on the field and off the field, especially in the classroom," Noel noted.

That's exactly what Noel has done. He has focused on keeping his concentration level high and also adding flexibility and strength. The biggest adjustment has actually been getting used to the bigger stage of major college football.

"Getting to play in a large atmosphere, playing in a big stadium like Carter-Finley, but it's been a good time so far," Noel said.