By JIM WALKER

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

It wouldn’t be too hard to imagine Noah Patterson as a cast member of the old classic Andy Griffith TV show where he would be living in the small town of Mayberry.

Small towns seem to fit Patterson well. He’s been playing football for the Fighting Tigers in the small town of Ironton and now he plans to play football in another small town after signing a national letter-of-intent on Wednesday’s first day of the early signing period as he joined the Eastern Michigan Eagles.

“Ypsilanti reminds me of the small town of Ironton,” said Patterson. “It really brings back that feel of not worrying about big town football but at the same time you don’ have to worry about having 25,000 at the football game. I like the small 10,000 because it just makes me feel at home,” said Patterson.

“I didn’t care about the other schools that had the big stadium. I liked to chill, the 10,000 max people. I love it a lot up there.”

Ball State was similar among schools who recruited Patterson. He listed the school as his second pick if Eastern Michigan didn’t work out.

“They treated me the exact same way just not to the point that you want to go there. I’m not saying they didn’t do a good job, I just chose Eastern over them.”

The 6-foot-3, 1285-pound Patterson said that playing for Eastern Michigan and in the Mid-American Conference also fits his preference for a small college setting.

“It’ll give me more time to actually play the game instead of being in the Big Ten Conference, the SEC or anything like that. I didn’t want to go too big. I want to go someplace where I can actually have a shot at playing,” said Patterson, who is projected to be a defensive tackle for the Eagles which suits him just fine.

“I love making an impact. I love going out there and making big plays and just getting hyped up. It’s fun. I love defense.”

Patterson also noted that playing at EMU should present him with a better chance of playing earlier in his career than at a much larger program that is crowded at every position. However, he knows he still has to work his way up the depth chart.

“As of right now, I’m probably going to be at the bottom, but that’s kind of expected. I’m not going to be expected to come in as a true freshman and start,” said Patterson. “I mean, I might get some reps, but I’m not expecting anything more than a few reps here and there, not even getting in the game much, but that’s what time is for. You’ve got to be patient and wait for your turn and put in the hard work.”

Ironton head coach Trevon Pendleton said Patterson should be able to play at the next level and has the tools to be successful.

“I don’t think Noah will have a problem transitioning just because of his work ethic, how he carries himself. The biggest transition is the time management piece,” said Ironton coach Trevon Pendleton.

“All the workouts and stuff he’s used to and put himself through, he’s went through our program and he’s taken all that in stride and he has no problem with it.”

Patterson developed into a leader for Ironton on both sides of the ball as he played both offensive and defensive line. Pendleton said the first team All-Ohio lineman and Southeast District Lineman of the Year has the intangibles that are needed.

“The mental makeup side he has will carry him through the college level and obviously his talent. He’s a talented kid. He’s really athletic. When he first played here he was a tight end and linebacker. He made the transition to O-line and D-line. He’s a stellar athlete. You couple that with his work ethic that he has, you’re going to have a great player,” said Pendleton.

Ironton offensive line coach Merril Triplett has more than 40 years of coaching experience and has been impressed with his work ethic, his strength and size, but he said Patterson does one thing he hasn’t seen before in his long career.

“He’s the fastest player I’ve ever seen off the ball. He is faster off the ball than any player I’ve coached or seen,” said Triplett.

Eastern Michigan will play in its eighth bowl game this season when the  Eagles (6-6) face the South Alabama Jaguars on Saturday in the 68 Ventures Bowl.

It will mark the sixth bowl since 2016 and its fifth in the last six seasons. Patterson is excited for his new team.

“They have been to a bowl game like the past four or five years and they’ve put on a show each time. They’re going to the 68 Ventures Bowl and I’m rooting for my guys hoping they bring it home,” he said.

Patterson said he plans to major in sports management as of now.

“I was bouncing back between that and engineering, but I wasn’t sure until I had to apply and I decided to pick sports management because I want to stay around sports. It’s been with me most of my life,” said Patterson.

“I just want to go there, become a leader and make my point that I came here not to joke around, to get stuff done, win a few bowl games and go down in (EMU) history.”