An ACL injury for Noah Giles has him working his way back to the field with a passion.

At the beginning of the 2018 season, the Nansemond-Suffolk Academy alumnus will spend his time rehabbing an injury instead of on the field for the College of William & Mary College football team.

Giles had never had an injury of this magnitude in his football career. It happened back in March, when he tried to adjust his speed on a particular drill, and he felt his knee give out on him. Giles was preparing for a critical redshirt sophomore season after showing some good things during his redshirt freshmen season. Last season, he appeared in 11 games and started five, finishing with 339 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

“I felt good about what I was able to do last season,” he said. “I was just trying to find my place, and at the end of the season, I felt like I was playing a lot better and more confident.”

Since June, Giles has been in Williamsburg rehabbing and wanting to stay around his team. He is being patient, but motivated at the same time with his recovery.

“I wanted to stay engaged and still be around my team,” he said. “I have just been working out and trying to support my team any way that I can. When the season starts, I still want to be out there at practice and going to games to support. I know my teammates would do the same if it were reversed.”

Since his injury, Giles has received a lot of support not only from his William & Mary teammates but also from people back home and former teammates. He wasn’t in the best mental state the first couple of weeks of the injury, but he has received advice from people who have gone through the same injury. They let him know that there will be good days and bad.

“In the doctor’s office when they diagnosed me, I just told myself I was going to let all the emotion out,” he said. “It was going to be no more pity parties after that, and I was going to focus on whatever I needed to get better.”

Giles is estimated to be able to get back on the field in November, but with a good rehab, he could make his return in October. If he does get a chance to play this season, he is hopeful he can hop right back into the running back rotation.

At Nansemond-Suffolk Academy, Giles was an All-State and All-Conference selection and state champion. He also won the Virginia Independent Athletic Association State Player of the Year.