by Joseph W. Gex II, Contributing Writer
Saint Stanislaus All-American and five-star kicker Evan Noel signed with the University of Florida Gators on the first day of the early signing period for football Wednesday, December 4.
Noel, the program and area’s only five-star player in history, chose the Gators over a myriad of offers including Southeastern Conference rivals Ole Miss and Arkansas. His signing completes a kicking career not seen in the area since SSC’s Juan Betanzos signed with LSU and went on to an All-SEC career for the Tigers in the mid-1980s.
Noel commented, “This is a dream come true as I have been working hard for this moment for a long time. Since I saw Myles Brennan do it a number of years ago, it has been what I have worked so hard to do. To be able to share this moment with my family and friends means a tremendous amount. They are the ones who have been there for me throughout the years and the tough times.”
Noel had multiple offers to choose from but selected the Gators after being committed to the University of Arkansas for two years. Noel added, “When I visited Florida, I felt like I was home. The team and the people of the university were so welcoming. It will be challenge to get on the field but that is my goal. I am looking forward to getting to the campus in June to begin the next chapter of being on my own and finding my way.”
In 2024 Noel was 21-of-23 on PATs, 11-for-20 on field goals, had 36 punts for 1,477 yards for a 41.03 AVG with a Ling punt of 56 yards and 5 punts downed inside the 10-yard line, and 43 kickoffs for 2,318 yards with 30 touchbacks and five converted onsides kicks.
In his career, Noel has 217 kickoffs for 12,153 yards with 156 touchbacks (72%) and a long kickoff of 75 yards. Noel recorded 135 punts for 5,263 yards for a 39.0 AVG with 37 kicks downed inside the 20-yard line, and a long punt of 65 yards. He was 124-for-134 on PATs (93%), 33-for-54 on field goals (61%), a long field goal of 61 yards, and tallied 223 points.
Noel joins Myles Brennan as an All-American on special teams as Brennan was named first-team All-American in 2016 by MaxPreps with a 46.3 AVG as a punter.
Saint Stanislaus head coach Tate Thigpen commented on Noel’s signing, “The entire Saint Stanislaus Football family is proud of Evan Noel signing with Florida today. He has accomplished alot over the course of his career here, including a state record field goal! Seeing it pay off with opportunities at the next level is validation for our other athletes that hard work, perseverance and dedication lead to success and greater opportunities. We wish him the best at Florida and look forward to watching him continue to reach his goals!”
The senior placekicker has been a varsity starter for four seasons but his 2024 season was one for the record books. The right-footed soccer style kicker had a storybook season in 2024.
Noel had been chosen All-State following his first three seasons and recorded the longest field in Mississippi each of those seasons with a 50-yard kick.
As he entered his senior season in August, Noel was ranked the #2-kicker in the nation and was a five-star. In fact, Noel is the only five-star player in the illustrious history of the school’s football program which has been playing on the gridiron for 109 years. This is the same program that has produced a Heisman Trophy winner and two of the top passing quarterbacks in high school history.
Noel entered the season chasing a goal of kicking the longest field goal in state history. The mark was a 58-yard kick set 25 years ago.
Noel took a shot at the record in the first game of the season on the road at Forrest County AHS. He miss-kicked the ball and hit a shot about 10-feet off the ground for 62 yards that smacked the middle of the crossbar and fell back. It was an impressive attempt that even the FCAHS crowd applauded him for the attempt.
The next two weeks were games in which a deep kick was not needed. But, in week four against the Pass Christian Pirates, Noel was given a shot at the record late in the game when everything else in the offensive arsenal of SSC was coming up short.
With the holder Henry Nunmaker placing the ball at the Rocks’ 49-yard line, Noel took a mighty swing and connected with the ball. As the ball sailed high and true, the kick would have been good from at least 67 yards which would have been better than any kick in NFL history.
However, the 61-yard smack eclipsed the Mississippi record by three yards and tied the record for the longest kick in the Southeastern Conference.
Noel stated, “It feels like I have been chasing that mark for eternity. But, I am happy it is over. I have been kicking since pee-wee football. My parents have always supported me in my pursuit of kicking. Many weekend mornings when I was young, my dad would take me to the pee-wee practice field behind SSC and we would kick. So, thanks Dad. It has been an incredible adventure.”
Noel would take two more attempts at the 60-yard mark during the season missing one wide left and one falling just short in the endzone.
Noel added, “I am very thankful and humbled for Saint Stanislaus to allow me an opportunity to make the kicks that I did make including the state record kick. I am appreciative of my teammates who protected myself and my holders on the kicks. A kicker cannot make the kick by himself. It takes 11 players to make it successful.”
Noel was also recently selected to play in the Mississippi/Alabama All-Star game that will be held on Saturday, December 14, at Hancock Whitney Stadium on the campus of the University of South Alabama. He is the 10th player selected from Saint Stanislaus to play in the prestigious game joining TE Stephen Peterman, LB Lee Klein, DE Jordan Ellis, OL JC Brignone, OL Chris Frigo, OL Ryan Gipson, DL Jordan Bradford, QB Myles Brennan, and TE Chase Rogers.
