Talent has never been the issue for Texas A&M wide receiver Speedy Noil. A five-star recruit out of New Orleans, Noil was the nation’s top receiver in the recruiting class of 2014, as ranked by 247sports.com.

He had an immediate impact that year both as a receiver and return man. Noil hauled in 46 passes as a true freshman. He totaled 583 receiving yards and five touchdowns in addition to averaging 23.9 yards on 27 kickoff returns and 12.0 on 15 punt returns.

He set the school record for true freshman with most receptions in a game (11) against Ole Miss and was voted 2014 Freshman All-SEC.

Things were going well, on the field, for the 5-11, 185-pound star in the making.

Off-the-field issues have kept Noil from reaching his potential. Yes, he suffered setbacks with injuries in the 2014 and 2015 seasons. But he’s made more headlines for his activities away from the field and if he’s not careful, he could end up just another forgotten talent who couldn’t handle the hype.

“Speedy has some things he’s got to complete,” coach Kevin Sumlin told the Houston Chronicle upon Noil’s absence from the Aggies’ 2015 spring practice.

“We asked him to do some things, and while he’s doing that he’s been away from the program. There’s more to it than just playing football. There are guys who mature at different times, and sometimes you have to put some things in place to make sure guys really understand what’s expected of them. And sometimes when you take football away from them and get them from that a little bit, the point is made.”

But Noil still hasn’t gotten the point. He played in just nine games last season, missing two because of injury and two from suspension, and his production was about half of that from the previous year. He made just 21 receptions for 226 yards and two touchdowns.

It’s difficult to rely on talent when you can’t count on them to show up and do the right things. He still hasn’t learned. Noil was suspended for the Aggies’ bowl game last season, the first of a two-game suspension that will include this year’s season opener, a Sept. 3 meeting with UCLA.

He was recently arrested and charged with driving without a license.

“He’s had his share of hiccups,” Sumlin told 247sports.com. “It’s a two steps forward, one step back deal. We’ve done some things internally with him from a discipline standpoint, and we always have. He’s still suspended for the opening ballgame.

“Like I said the consistency part has been an issue. Up until that time this semester he was moving forward. But like in life unfortunately one hiccup like that or miscue or wrongdoing to throw all that off.”

Still, Noil possesses the talent and it was on display in Saturday’s Maroon and White Game at Kyle Field. Noil hauled in a touchdown pass thrown by fellow receiver Christian Kirk on a trick play.

So where does Noil fit in with the Aggies? He’s been overtaken as the team’s top receiver. Kirk, a five-star recruit from the recruiting class of 2015, put up the numbers and displayed the talent and discipline as a true freshman last season that was expected of Noil.

In 13 games last season, Kirk led the team with 80 passes for 1,009 and seven touchdowns. He was third in the SEC averaging 77.6 yards per game. He averaged 19.2 yards on 20 kickoff returns and 24.4 yards on 14 punt returns.

If that weren’t enough, he threw the touchdown pass to Noil in Saturday’s Maroon and White Game.

So where does that leave Noil? Well, the question is really irrelevant if Noil can’t stay on the field. The Aggies don’t lose a step with Kirk performing all the duties that were originally expected of Noil.

The Aggies are deep at wide receiver. Aside from Kirk and Noil, there is tremendous talent in Josh Reynolds, Ricky Seals-Jones and Damion Ratley.

Where Noil fits in with that group is really up to Noil. He can straighten up and fly right for a year or two, contribute to the program, and then get paid, or he can continue on his current path and slide into oblivion. He wouldn’t be the first to do so.