McNeil to test skills in All-American Bowl
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East Team (roster)
Defensive back
Mobile, Ala.
McNeil in actionClick 6-2, 200, 4.56Here to view this Link.
Rivals.com Rankings
Rivals100 for 2007: No. 60 overall
Rivals.com safeties: No. 5
Rivals.com Alabama top 25: No. 3
Mobile (Ala.) Davidson safety Michael McNeil is looking forward to testing his considerable skills against some of the nation's best talent at the inaugural Offense-Defense All-American Bowl.
The 6-foot-2, 200-pounder has been named to the East squad for the all-star game, which will kick off at 5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 4 at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Rivals.com is the official selection partner for the game, which will be televised live by ESPNU.
"I'm real excited and looking forward to playing against the competition," McNeil said. "There are going to be a lot of great players out there."
Playing great football runs in McNeil's blood. He is the grandson of former all-pro receiver Clifton McNeil, who led the NFL in receptions in 1968. That season, Clifton McNeil hauled in 71 passes for 994 yards and seven touchdowns for the San Francisco 49ers.
Michael McNeil is one of many top prospects from the Alabama on the East squad. He joins defensive end Sidell Corley of Mobile McGill-Toolen, defensive tackle Kerry Murphy of Hoover and linebacker Rolando McClain of Decatur.
"I look forward to (playing with some of Alabama's top prospects)," he said. "I know there is going to be a lot of top players."
McNeil says that there are many aspects of his game that have allowed him to ascend to elite status as a prospect.
"I probably have to say the physical aspect of the game, my range and ball skills are what make me a great prospect," he said. "Also I can play cornerback, free safety, strong safety and outside linebacker."
Despite his talent, McNeil and his Davidson teammates didn't have an excellent year.
"We didn't do as well this year, so I would probably have to say my season was disappointing," he said. "Our record was 6-5."
Despite the down year for Davidson standards, McNeil credits coach Fred Riley and his staff with preparing him for college football.
"The coaches work us hard and push us to the limit," he said. "Even when I thought I couldn't do this or that, the coaches believed in me."
On the recruiting front, McNeil has a slew of scholarship offers and will begin the process of setting up official visits.
"I'm thinking about visiting Alabama, Auburn and Florida State and possibly Ohio State and maybe Arkansas," he said.
The Crimson Tide, Tigers and Seminoles have long been considered front-runners for McNeil's services.
Regardless, the process is weighing on the nation's fifth-ranked safety prospect.
"It's getting real hectic," he said. "I am getting calls from everywhere."
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