Nate Noel reminds the next generation of Missouri running backs, “Don’t ever be too high or too low. Just enjoy the journey and have fun.” Noel is in the final chapter of an illustrious college football career and aims to pass this mindset to the younger guys on the team.

The graduate transfer elected to spend his remaining year of eligibility at the University of Missouri after spending four with the Appalachian State Mountaineers. He took a chance with the Tigers for an opportunity to win a national championship and to  showcase his talents on a bigger stage – both a leading factor in his decision to move.

He credits his uncle with establishing the foundation of his running style as Noel’s uncle and father would take Noel to the park to practice. According to Noel, the foundation for his running started then.

“The foundation started way back when I was younger,” Noel said. “He was a big reason I run the way I run.”

The childhood lessons paid off for Noel and his family as they watched Noel garner attention through high school.

Noel is no stranger to winning titles. His career is filled with a vast array of accolades.

Noel attended Miami Northwestern High School in Florida. During his senior season in 2019, Noel and his team won a third consecutive 5A Florida State Title. He was a crucial contributor to the team’s remarkable season while being named to the All-Dade County First Team.

He totaled 1,353 rushing yards on an astounding 15.4 yards per carry while leading the team with 18 touchdowns. The three-star recruit’s success carried over into Miami Northwestern’s State Championship game against Jones High School from Orlando, Fla.

Noel was the best player on the field as he notched three touchdowns in his team’s 34-17 championship game victory. He was awarded the 2019 State Championship MVP for those efforts.

“It was fun, to say the least,” Noel said. “Doing it with my brothers, grinding it out every day, not having much but still going to work, going to practice hungry […] it’s all part of the grind.”

On the field, Noel is recognized for his speed. In high school, he showcased his talents on the track, winning a state title with Miami Northwestern’s 4×100 team.

He mentioned that these early successes kept him humble as he transitioned from high school to college.

Noel opted to start his collegiate career with Appalachian State, the former home of current Missouri Head Football Coach Eliah Drinkwitz. Over the course of four years with the Mountaineers, Noel heard stories about the school’s former coach. However, the two would not cross paths until several years later.

In years since, Noel established himself as one of the great running backs in Appalachian State history, eventually stealing coach Drinkwitz’s attention. He finished his time at Appalachian State with 3,074 career yards, the eighth-best in program history.

His success began with an impressive freshman campaign with 535 yards. It was a matter of time before Noel broke out nationally.

Noel led the Sun Belt Conference in rushing yards the year after with a mark of 1,126, leading Appalachian State to a 10-4 record. As a result, Noel was named to the All-Conference First Team.

The following season, Noel missed three games while also being limited in others. He still led the team in rushing yards with 604 and scrimmage yards with 749. Noel managed to do the most with what he was given, averaging the eighth-best national rate of 6.9 yards per carry.

In his final year with the Mountaineers, Noel, like clockwork, tallied a team-high of scrimmage yards with 902. For the second consecutive season, he missed three full games and faced limitations in others.

“Not having the best of days every day shaped me into a man,” Noel said. “I was able to battle back from a lot of adversity.”

Despite the injuries, Noel still reflects fondly on his time at Appalachian State. However, it was time for a change in scenery for the senior running back. This is when Missouri came calling. When Noel entered the transfer portal, he met Drinkwitz. He said everyone was so genuine, which drew him in.

Missouri finished the 2023 season with an 11-2 record and a Cotton Bowl victory over Ohio State. With running back Cody Schrader shouldering much of the load, Drinkwitz would need to find a suitable replacement with his imminent departure to the NFL.

“We’re very confident in what he can do, very excited about how he fits into this offense,” Drinkwitz said in an Aug 10 press conference.

In his short time with Missouri, Noel credits the coaching staff with making him a smarter player, teaching him how to react in certain situations.

Among the coaches Noel is alluding to is coach Curtis Luper, Missouri’s running backs coach. Luper is recognized as one of the best coaching specialists at the college level.

Luper took on a role at Auburn in 2009, quickly establishing a dominant ground game. In 2010, along with fellow assistant Eliah Drinkiwitz, Auburn won a national championship. This is where they fostered a relationship that would lead Drinkiwtz to hire Luper for Missouri.

Since Luper’s hiring in 2019, Missouri has seen a brilliant stretch of running back play from Larry Rountree III, Tyler Badie and the aforementioned Schraeder.

“He’s like a second father,” Noel said in a press conference after Missouri’s Sept. 21 win over Vanderbilt. “He’ll tell you when you’re wrong and I always loved that about him. He’s always encouraging, making sure we’re in the zone.”

Noel has participated in seven of the Tigers’ nine games this season, missing two due to injury. In his time with Missouri, Noel has dazzled in Columbia.

He leads the team with 534 rushing yards and 5.6 yards per carry. While the injury struggles have followed him to the SEC level, so has the undeniable talent.

Noel currently ranks seventh in the SEC in yards per carry with three conference games and one potential Bowl game remaining.

Throughout the season, Noel has split carries with fellow Sun Belt transfer Marcus Carroll. Noel describes his play style as elusive” and “shifty, while Carroll has more of a bruising presence.

“They both move the chains, they both get yards when they carry the football, and they do it differently; you respect that Nate may do it quicker, faster, and Marcus will put his shoulder down and run through some people, but the production is the same, they move the chains,” Luper said on Tiger Talk radio show.

Carroll is currently second on the team with 426 rushing yards, leading the team in rushing touchdowns with six.

“Me and Nate knew of each other; we have a chance to do something that has never been done before, create something special, create our own unique identity; he bought into that,” Carroll said on Tiger Talk.

Together, the duo has totaled over 1,000 total yards on 214 combined touches this season. The dynamic duo has proven to be a vital part of the Missouri offense and a key to the team’s success.

Less than a year into his stint with Missouri, Noel has bought into the brotherhood and seamlessly found his role with the team. Time is winding down on Noel’s collegiate career and like so many times before, he’s making the most out of it.

Edited by Michael Stamps | mstamps@themaneater.com

Copy edited by Natalie Kientzy | nkientzy@themaneater.com 

Copyedited by Hannah Taylor | htaylor@themaneater.com

Edited by Emily Skidmore | eskidmore@themaneater.com