(93.7 The Fan) - Sophomore running back Noah Cain is back at Penn State, cautioning everyone about Covid-19. It turns out that when campus closed in March, Cain was unable to return to his Baton Rouge, La. home because several family members were stricken by the virus.
"I saw what it can do to you," Cain said on Tuesday. "It definitely needs to be taken seriously. It's not a joke. My cousin had it, my auntie had it, my momma had it. I wasn't able to go down there due to my family wanting me to stay away. It's definitely a serious thing."
Cain learned quickly that he needed to be cautious.
"It's scary. Some days you don't know if the person is going to make it, honestly. That just taught me to take it more seriously. At first I thought it's just a virus I'm not going to get it. As time went on, as loved ones close to me started to get it, I started to take the precautions that were needed."
Unable to go home, Cain divided his time between Arizona and Texas.
"It was hard for me to sit inside. You can only sit in the house for so many days. Staring at the walls some days, not knowing what I'm going to do next. It was hard."
His family members are doing better now, but he said it was a difficult month and a half.
Cain returned to campus last Wednesday and was tested for the virus Monday, so he hasn't had the chance to participate in workouts with his teammates.
"From what I understand it's a big adjustment just as far as social distancing, wearing gaiters and covering your face," Cain said. "You can't really dap up anybody or give them a hug because of all the precautions we're having now. From what I've been hearing you have to keep your distance and mind your business honestly. Get your work in and get out because the last thing we need is for some people to become too touchy and then next thing you know we're in a big mess with this virus, which is so easy to get."
A 4-star recruit, Cain's strong freshman season was interrupted by a nagging ankle injury. He returns as a part of a deep backfield that includes Journey Brown, Devyn Ford and freshman Caziah Holmes. He wants to contribute as best he can.
"My main goal is for the game to slow down so I can make more plays when my number is called. I think it has slowed down for me. I'm just real eager to keep learning the playbook in this new offense and just play my part next (season)."