4-star OT Neal on UM: "It's almost one of those perfect fits to be honest"

Stefan Adams

Jul 2, 2018 2 min read

Working mostly at left tackle, IMG Academy (FL) 4-star OT Evan Neal put on a clinic on Day 3 of the Opening Finals with his performance in the OL/DL session. Arguably UM’s top target overall in the 2019 cycle, Neal didn’t lose a rep and was dominating some of the best D-Linemen in the country.

“Oh yeah, I feel like I had a pretty good performance, always have room for improvement,” Neal said on his day in Frisco. “That’s why I’m ready to take a shower, get into the film room, and see what I did wrong to correct it.”

A few weeks back, Neal visited Coral Gables with many members of his immediate family and detailed what it is about the Canes that has him interested being a part of the U.

“It was amazing man, they threw everything at me. They’re making the decision hard on me,” Neal said. “I’ve been to Miami a lot, I grew up a Miami fan. Miami will be a real good fit for me, close to home, good program, good head coach. Great academic program as well, it’s a place where I can live and be comfortable at. Beautiful campus, the nicest campus in college football. Miami’s right on the beach, I mean come on.”

And Neal is certainly a priority to the Canes. In fact, he says he’s in touch with Mark Richt more than any other head coach in the nation.

“Coach Richt texts me almost every day,” Neal said. “From a head coach, I get the most text messages from him. Out of all the head coaches, nobody talks to me more than coach Richt.”

Neal, who is 6’7.5” and 361 pounds, has no other visits planned as of now, but as an early enrollee, knows his decision window is fast-approaching.

“I don’t know exactly when I’m going to be making a decision, but I do know that I’m going to be early enrolling, so before December,” Neal said.

Although he declined to name an official leader or top groups, Neal’s final comments on Miami sum up why some consider him a Miami-lean to this point.

“It’s almost one of those perfect fits to be honest,” Neal said on UM. “But there’s still time for other schools, I still have to see what’s up.”

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Comments (337)

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brock

Jul 5, 2018

MiamiChris said:
NEWBerg used to be the man with info but has been off last few years, he knows Taggert real well but I think Taggert is the one misreading some of these kids.

I know Neal LOVED FSU visit but I also think some of that wore off since. Neal’s mom loves Miami which has been noted and I thinking that will matter.

Exactly

MiamiChris

Jul 5, 2018

brock said:
We will see, auburn targeted him and that’s his alma mater this offseason and he didn’t go back this season

Daughter was still in HS

AllAboutTheU

Jul 5, 2018

MiamiChris said:
I just don’t think some of these OL kids vibe with Searals all that well, this is just an opinion not a freak out on Neal. I wouldn’t doubt if in the next year he moves elsewhere to a smaller college town but like an SEC or ACC school. Daughter graduated and I’ve heard family doesn’t love big city lifestyle.

I think the opposite. A lot of kids talk about how much they like him in interviews.

The Franchise

Jul 5, 2018

Jassid82 said:
Disagree. Hes doing the right thing. Don't commit just because everyone thinks you should. Commit when you are 110% ready to join us and end your recruitment like Lo Lingard. Until then, I would rather him enjoy the process and take his time. Tired of these kids committing because they feel obligated only to decommit months later. Big fish like Neal, Stephenson, and Bogle we are just going to have to wait out until December.

You can disagree all you want. If this dude is tight with the Gary family, then he should be committed already because he shouldn't be thinking of anything other than being a Cane. He should have been 100% ready the day he popped out of his moms.

SayWhat

Jul 5, 2018

BeastMode said:
I will agree with you on that. Not every **** kid in the country is getting tempted with “gifts”. It’s a very small percentage of kids and our fans just need to realize we are just flat out missing on some of these guys. It happens and we don’t need to make excuses of “BAGS” every **** time!

Yes, these losers need to use that excuse or the following will make their headburst or they'll end up in a padded room mumbling Miami is great, where's my chocolate cake.

- Some want to go somewhere different. Not everyone wants to stay where they grew up.

- Some want to go to a big school with a huge fanbase and all the attention that comes with it.

- Some will look at various depth charts and that's a factor.

- Some will believe in another coach and their vision for them as a player more than any one of our coaches.

- Some want to go where the best players are and they've proven to get their guys to the next level. We are getting better here, but still have work to do.

- Some see a particlar system and think they're a better fit in that system.

- A very small percentage will make a choice based on academics and yes, some of the football factories have better departments than us.

There are tons of factors, but you dumb little ******* have to say it's bags for everyone. The sad part, some of these dudes play it straight and clean, but all you can do is smear their names like they're all on the take.

Miami isn't for everyone but some if you just can't seem to get it through your brains. Pathetic.

SayWhat

Jul 5, 2018

The Franchise said:
You can disagree all you want. If this dude is tight with the Gary family, then he should be committed already because he shouldn't be thinking of anything other than being a Cane. He should have been 100% ready the day he popped out of his moms.

Yes, because kids are always fans of the same teams their parents or relatives are.

W
warpigs58

Jul 5, 2018

Going to Bama he is going to sit for at least one year minimum and possibly get a few garbage reps like Leatherwood did this past season. Where as he could go to the U and get a **** of a lot more playing time if not challenge for a starting position as a freshman and get a first class education.

252cane

Jul 5, 2018

Bama already has 3 tackles. 1 is a 5 star and another 1 is ranked as a top 10 tackle.

O
Odin

Jul 5, 2018

252cane said:
Bama already has 3 tackles. 1 is a 5 star and another 1 is ranked as a top 10 tackle.

When has that ever mattered?

Captain Uberpants

Jul 5, 2018

warpigs58 said:
Going to Bama he is going to sit for at least one year minimum and possibly get a few garbage reps like Leatherwood did this past season. Where as he could go to the U and get a **** of a lot more playing time if not challenge for a starting position as a freshman and get a first class education.

It makes too much sense for him to come here. He’s too talented to not start somewhere day 1.

I’d leave Donaldson at RG and put this kid at RT and have the largest right side of the OL in history.

Dwinstitles

Jul 5, 2018

Odin said:
When has that ever mattered?

wait what?

The Franchise

Jul 5, 2018

SayWhat said:
Yes, because kids are always fans of the same teams their parents or relatives are.

Might not apply to your weak *** feeble family of turds and kids who have zero love or respect for their parents.

But any real UM man and woman who have a kid, and groom and raise him properly will love all the same teams his parents do. If you’re raising a ****, then he’ll rebel against you like the one kumbag Patchan kid did.

The Franchise

Jul 5, 2018

252cane said:
Bama already has 3 tackles. 1 is a 5 star and another 1 is ranked as a top 10 tackle.

And if they still want Neal, there’s plenty of budget remaining if he’s open to that form of persuasion.

MiamiChris

Jul 5, 2018

Dwinstitles said:
wait what?

Bama signs 3 5* WR every year. Position numbers don’t seem to matter with kids and bama

AllAboutTheU

Jul 5, 2018

Newberg: Miami fans got upset when I was told PSU was the biggest threat to land Michael Johnson, now PSU is the team to beat.

This too will play out. I understand the anger in losing out on a guy like Neal

He's sticking his neck out on the line with a lot of confidence here.

Dwinstitles

Jul 5, 2018

MiamiChris said:
Bama signs 3 5* WR every year. Position numbers don’t seem to matter with kids and bama

Oh yea true.............thats why I never believe the whole start right away BS excuse recruits put. Thats just a media answer

SayWhat

Jul 5, 2018

The Franchise said:
Might not apply to your weak *** feeble family of turds and kids who have zero love or respect for their parents.

But any real UM man and woman who have a kid, and groom and raise him properly will love all the same teams his parents do. If you’re raising a ****, then he’ll rebel against you like the one kumbag Patchan kid did.

You're such a choad it isn't even funny.

Should I list the players we've had that didn't play for their pops team? Are they all "*****" as you described above?

Just to get you on the same page, we have a linebacker here who fits the bill. Is he a "****" little man?

Let's take it one step further. How about Will Mallory? Not only did his father play at Michigan, but his grandfather as well. Is he a "****" or are you the ****?

Once again, the living embodiment of nothing to say has been made to look like a fool and doesn't know when to hush up.