In February of this year, a young man hailing from Mobile, Alabama was crowned as royalty. Devin Demetrius Nobles Jr. now holds the title of the 24th Mr. Florida A&M University for the 2023-2024 academic year.
Nobles says he never expected to become Mr. FAMU, but emphasizes that he has been preparing for such a position throughout his life.
“Heavy is the head, but my neck doesn’t hurt,” he said.
Nobles grew up in a big family, which taught him the importance of community. He noted that he has always had a very outgoing and high-achieving personality, which he credits to his upbringing.
At an early age, he learned the importance of accepting individuals for who they are, which he hopes will make him an approachable and understanding leader.
According to Nobles, greatness appears to be a family trait. In fact, his twin brother, Derrick Nobles, was motivated by his journey and decided to pursue a similar role at his own university. He currently serves as Mr. Trojan Pride for the 2023-2024 term at Troy University in Alabama.
Derrick recalls that their parents instilled in him and his siblings to always strive for the best, to pursue their goals relentlessly and to always aim to be the best version of themselves. “My brother running for Mr. FAMU, me running for Mr. Trojan Pride and my sister going to law school on a full ride are things that, when we decided we wanted it, we went to go get it,” he said.
Nobles says that he finds inspiration in those closest to him. His friend and mentor, Armani Jones, played a major role in his decision to run for Mr. FAMU. “He set the standard of what excellence really is for me. I always tell him, ‘I have to be greater than you,’ because he’s the bar.”
Jones served as the 23rd Mr. FAMU during the 2022-2023 academic year. His motivation to run for Mr. FAMU stemmed from student leaders who shared their experiences with him. He wanted to have that same impact on others, and so he did.
Jones describes Nobles as a gentle and kind-hearted individual. He says he saw a lot of himself in Nobles and took immense pride in passing on the legacy to him.
“Running for Mr. Florida A&M is no easy task; it’s not for the weak at all. To see someone do that, someone I’m already so close to, just made us closer. It was nothing short of a blessing,” he said.
The road to Noble’s reign was not an easy one. He describes sacrifice as a prevailing theme in his journey, a theme that persists even now as he holds the title of Mr. FAMU.
“People don’t understand what it took for me to just declare candidacy, then to do the declaration, then to do the campaign, set up my tent every morning at 7 a.m., and then go to my 9 a.m. class,” he explained.
As Mr. FAMU, Nobles is constitutionally bound to attend recruitment trips, speak at convocations, execute community service, and be an official representative of the university. He emphasizes his intention to surpass these expectations in an effort to reshape perceptions of the royal court.
“We’re the face of the university, but I don’t feel like we’re a respected entity,” Nobles said.
He aims to demonstrate this year that the responsibilities of the royal court extend far beyond appearances at football games. “I want to be a more personable court, a more working court, and a more understood court,” he added.
Nobles is pursuing a degree in computer engineering. His future ambitions include obtaining a Ph.D. and later becoming a software development engineer. Once he has established himself in his chosen profession, Nobles aspires to return to FAMU and give back to the university.
As for now, he plans to set a new standard for what it means to be Mr. FAMU. “To whom much is given, much is required,” he said.
Nobles will be officially sworn in on Sunday, Oct. 22 during the Homecoming Coronation Ceremony.