MORGANTOWN — In many ways Fort Myers is like so many other resort towns that dot the West Coast of Florida from Tampa to Naples. It is rich with white beaches, warm weather and a pair of major league baseball teams — the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins — making their spring headquarters there.

It was founded as a fort to fight the Seminole Indians but became one of the chic vacation spots in the 1900s when first the inventor Thomas Alva Edison built a winter estate there, followed by his friend, Henry Ford, who built an estate on Edison’s grounds.

During the resort season the city booms, but the tourists who swell the population past its 65,000 or so see only part of the city. There is another part, perhaps darker, certainly less publicized by the Chamber of Commerce.

That is the city that West Virginia running back Noel Devine and redshirt freshman cornerback Broderick Jenkins came to know as home.

“People don’t see the real Fort Myers. They probably go to Naples or Bonita Springs or Three Oaks or Sanibel, but the inner city is just like every other inner city,” Jenkins said Sunday.

It is not far from the historic waterfront district or the historic art walk, but it is light years away in its reality. It is home to them, and as such, a place they love and hold dearly, but it didn’t hurt them at all to get away to Morgantown.

Today, Devine, the superstar, and Jenkins, the budding star, live together, are roommates and are mentor and pupil.

Noel Devine is from the north side of the city, Jenkins from the south, which meant that they attended different high schools.

Devine, of course, was a YouTube star, a national phenomenon who was friendly with Deion Sanders, a prodigy as a high school running back.

“I grew up watching him,” Jenkins said. “You look at him now and look at him then … same thing, same exact thing. Probably the same size.”

He laughs with his reference to his size, for Devine is altitude challenged, but hardly what you would call small as he has become a weight room freak, a physical specimen for the ages.

Jenkins recalls catching a case of Devine fever, even as his own high school career was beginning to bloom.

“My sophomore year I got hurt and my team didn’t let me go to their game. That was the week Devine’s team was nationally televised in a game on ESPN,” Jenkins recalls.

He was there when Devine showed America what he had and now he’s there every evening when Devine comes home from practice. Some days, of course, are better than others, especially when you are just beginning your career, as Jenkins is.

He has won over the coaching staff with his ability, his quick feet and instincts and ability to pick things up quickly. He already is running often with the 1s, ahead of returning starter Keith Tandy, who has helped mentor him.

“Broderick he has some of the best feet and hips I’ve seen since I’ve been here. His feet are way better than mine,” Tandy said.

When asked how their relationship has developed, Tandy explained:

“Every time I’m out on field or in the weight room, he’s right in my back pocket. He’s listening to what I’m saying or do what I do. I do it right off the top of my head. I tell him about every experience I have, to tell him about that moment, how it is.

“He is learning a lot. He’s learning so quick. He pays attention to detail and that’s a real important thing for a young guy.”

And the learning doesn’t end when he gets home. There’s Devine offering advice.

“He’s a motivational speaker,” Jenkins said.

The advice comes from the heart.

“Represent,” Jenkins answered, when asked what the advice was. “We grew up in the same place. Not too many people come from out of Fort Myers. It’s not really a great place to grow up in.”

As for Devine, he has really become the leader of this team and has stretched his influence far beyond the locker room or his roommate.

He has held a couple of “239 Future All-Star Camps” during the off-season in Fort Myers. As many as 120 children between the ages of 6 and 18 have been there for instruction and autographs.

"It just comes down to having a passion for it," said Devine, the all-time leading rusher in Lee County high school history. "I know it means a lot to the kids. They motivate me to want it even more."

And it means a lot to Jenkins to get the advice.

“I’m always trying to give him some of my wisdom. I feel I can help a younger player,” Devine said. “We were living in and grew up in the same town, we have a lot of similarities. It’s like I’m preaching to him.”

The message is a simple one.

“The one thing I try to get across is be patient and sacrifice. This is a special time and you want to get the most out of life and football. Don’t leave wishing you had gotten a degree.”

Certainly Jenkins has impressed head coach Bill Stewart.

“He’s a guy that’s making plays for us. We were high on him last year. He really started making some plays in the spring, and I think that’s allowed him to be a bit more confident,” Stewart said. “Playing out there with those guys, you have to have a short memory and be confident, and he does that. If you spend five minutes with the kid, you know he’s a great kid. He’s a wonderful guy and he plays for his teammates and West Virginia University. We’re really excited about him.”

E-mail Bob Hertzel at bhertzel@hotmail.com