Noah Whittington getting homecoming game at Peach Bowl

ATLANTA, Ga. (KOIN) — The Oregon running backs room is, to say the least, barren heading into the Peach Bowl. A few running backs have opted to transfer, while Jordon Davison is out with an injury.

That means that Oregon starting running back Noah Whittington will have even more on his shoulders on Friday if he plays — he is currently listed as questionable.

If he does play, he’ll have an army cheering for him in the stands. That’s because Whittington will play in the Peach Bowl two hours away from his high school, aptly named Peach County.

“He’s a better person than he is a football player,” said his high school head coach, Chad Campbell. “I always get a gleam in my eye talking about Noah.”

If Whittington’s high school coach feels that way, imagine his mother.

You can see the pride beaming from her face when discussing her son being the starting running back on one of the last four teams in the nation standing.

“It’s amazing. It’s like, real,” said his mom, Angelle. “Gotta pinch yourself. It’s unbelievable.”
But really, it’s anything but unbelievable when you talk to the people in Whittington’s life about him.

Angelle used the word determined to describe him as a football player. As for his high school head coach?

“Hard-nosed,” said Campbell. “He was coached hard in high school, and he embraced it. He’s one of those you don’t want to get into a fight with. He’s a tough kid, and he’s gritty.”
Whittington will use that grit on Friday in the Peach Bowl as he plays in a place where he has some history.

Whittington is 0-3 all-time at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, including falling in two state championship games.

“Oh, definitely motivated,” said Angelle about how much her son wants to rewrite his script at the place formerly known as the Georgia Dome. “I like that Dan Lanning talks about, you want to keep your head where your feet are. That was the past, and you can’t do anything about it. What you can do something about is what’s happening now. So, I think, fingers crossed.”

As he heads into yet another big game in one of the country’s biggest stadiums, both Coach Campbell and his mom have messages for him.

“Get it done,” stated Campbell. “Embrace it and take it all in. Give him the ball and let him go.”

“Have fun. That’s always the message, just have fun,” said Angelle. “Play it like it’s your last time. Enjoy this experience. Take it all in. Remember everything you can about this moment.”

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