St.Kittsnd
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This is a bit of a surprize! Has anybody heard of this guy? It is posted on Scout.
Kerry Neal-First Irish Commit for 2007
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jiggafini19
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This is spreading like wildfire right now. Here is an article from August 2005 about him. Sounds like he jumped on board ASAP. His other offer was from Wake Forest.
Kerry Neal, a 6-foot-2, 215-pound athlete from Bunn, N.C., is disappointed by his team's 0-2 record early in the 2005 season.
"We are real young," Neal said. "We're making little mistakes like taking bad snaps, fumbling on the other team's 10-yard line and things like that. We're still motivated and we still have to come out and play."
While the Wildcats have gotten off to a slow start, Neal has done just the opposite when it comes to recruiting. Just a junior he is already receiving interest from schools like Penn State, North Carolina, East Carolina, Wake Forest and Notre Dame.
The Irish have definitely sparked his interest.
"The sent me a questionnaire and things like that," he said. "I like their program and they have a strong tradition."
This season Neal is playing defensive end, tight end and wide receiver but he feels that he's best suited to play a different position in college.
"I like playing defensive end because I get to hit people," he said. "I like catching and running with the ball too but I'd like to play strong safety in college."
Neal hasn't been timed in the 40-yard dash but he said he consistently outruns a teammate that has been clocked at 4.6 seconds. He bench presses 275 pounds and squats 380 pounds. While those numbers are impressive, Neal's believes his best attribute is his heart.
"I play hard every play," he said. "I come ready to play every night and I know what's happening on the field."
The future business major carries a 3.0 grade point average.
Kerry Neal, a 6-foot-2, 215-pound athlete from Bunn, N.C., is disappointed by his team's 0-2 record early in the 2005 season.
"We are real young," Neal said. "We're making little mistakes like taking bad snaps, fumbling on the other team's 10-yard line and things like that. We're still motivated and we still have to come out and play."
While the Wildcats have gotten off to a slow start, Neal has done just the opposite when it comes to recruiting. Just a junior he is already receiving interest from schools like Penn State, North Carolina, East Carolina, Wake Forest and Notre Dame.
The Irish have definitely sparked his interest.
"The sent me a questionnaire and things like that," he said. "I like their program and they have a strong tradition."
This season Neal is playing defensive end, tight end and wide receiver but he feels that he's best suited to play a different position in college.
"I like playing defensive end because I get to hit people," he said. "I like catching and running with the ball too but I'd like to play strong safety in college."
Neal hasn't been timed in the 40-yard dash but he said he consistently outruns a teammate that has been clocked at 4.6 seconds. He bench presses 275 pounds and squats 380 pounds. While those numbers are impressive, Neal's believes his best attribute is his heart.
"I play hard every play," he said. "I come ready to play every night and I know what's happening on the field."
The future business major carries a 3.0 grade point average.
LuckoftheIrish86
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http://notredame.scout.com/2/502497.html
Nothing on rivals though. Looks like an undersized DE or could move to LB.
Nothing on rivals though. Looks like an undersized DE or could move to LB.
jiggafini19
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It didn't take Bunn, N.C., defensive end Kerry Neal long to make a decision as to where he would be playing his college ball. According to Bunn head coach David Howle the decision was made this morning.
"Coach Weis called and said he watched his film at 5:30 this morning and he loved what he saw, and they offered him a scholarship," Howle said. "Kerry called Coach Weis at 10:30 this morning and committed to Notre Dame."
Coach Howle is expecting big things from neal in the future.
“He plays hard and has unlimited potential. He’s 6’3, about 220. He’ll probably get 235 after basketball season. He can play tight end, outside linebacker, and a lot of people like him as a DE. He may be a kid that’s 6’4, 6’5 250 pounds when he’s done. I don’t know how big he’s going to get. He’s got long arms, long legs.”
"Coach Weis called and said he watched his film at 5:30 this morning and he loved what he saw, and they offered him a scholarship," Howle said. "Kerry called Coach Weis at 10:30 this morning and committed to Notre Dame."
Coach Howle is expecting big things from neal in the future.
“He plays hard and has unlimited potential. He’s 6’3, about 220. He’ll probably get 235 after basketball season. He can play tight end, outside linebacker, and a lot of people like him as a DE. He may be a kid that’s 6’4, 6’5 250 pounds when he’s done. I don’t know how big he’s going to get. He’s got long arms, long legs.”
jiggafini19
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Unf*cking real!!!!
Weis watches tape before the coffee is made, makes an offer and the kid is in before lunchtime!!!???
Friggin Charlie, man. What a story....
Weis watches tape before the coffee is made, makes an offer and the kid is in before lunchtime!!!???
Friggin Charlie, man. What a story....
jiggafini19
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Notre Dame landed their first commitment of the 2007 recruiting season on Friday when defensive end prospect Kerry Neal accepted a full scholarship offer to play for the Irish.
The Irish have been looking for speed to add to their pass rush and Bunn high school defensive end Kerry Neal should fit the bill.
Neal (6-3, 225) received a surprise this morning and then he gave Charlie Weis a surprise a short time later
“He left a message on my coaches voice mail,” Neal said of Weis. “He said they wanted to offer me a full scholarship.
“Me and my coach called him back. He really did all the talking. He said he saw my film and that they were recruiting me. He said he knew a player when he saw a player. He said he was offering me a scholarship. I was speechless and then I said I accept. So I verbally committed."
Neal is sure he wants to be at Notre Dame, but he isn’t certain of where he’ll play.
“I play defensive end, linebacker and tight end, but they didn’t say where they wanted me to play. I doesn’t matter as long as I get on the field.
“It’s been a school that I’ve been a fan of since I was a little kid. I’ve never been to Notre Dame, but me and my coach are planning a trip right now."
The Irish have been looking for speed to add to their pass rush and Bunn high school defensive end Kerry Neal should fit the bill.
Neal (6-3, 225) received a surprise this morning and then he gave Charlie Weis a surprise a short time later
“He left a message on my coaches voice mail,” Neal said of Weis. “He said they wanted to offer me a full scholarship.
“Me and my coach called him back. He really did all the talking. He said he saw my film and that they were recruiting me. He said he knew a player when he saw a player. He said he was offering me a scholarship. I was speechless and then I said I accept. So I verbally committed."
Neal is sure he wants to be at Notre Dame, but he isn’t certain of where he’ll play.
“I play defensive end, linebacker and tight end, but they didn’t say where they wanted me to play. I doesn’t matter as long as I get on the field.
“It’s been a school that I’ve been a fan of since I was a little kid. I’ve never been to Notre Dame, but me and my coach are planning a trip right now."
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Guest
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wow!!!!. this was totally unexpected, Weis has a great eye for talent so i'm sure this kid is legit.
Don't be surprised if this kid starts to get alot of offers, coaches are probably clamoring to watch his video because Weis has offered him so early. Same happened with Tyler Lyon, ND was one of the first schools to offer him then soon after he got alot of offers.
Don't be surprised if this kid starts to get alot of offers, coaches are probably clamoring to watch his video because Weis has offered him so early. Same happened with Tyler Lyon, ND was one of the first schools to offer him then soon after he got alot of offers.
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IndyND'03
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so who wants to bet how rivals and scout will rate this kid since 1) he committed so early and 2) he committed to the irish. im guessing he'll undeservedly be 3 star if not worse on their rankings
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IrishjetinNY
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Damn that was a shock. Its good news though, Charlie is rolling them in.
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Gizmo
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Hopefully he can inject some speed and athleticism into our defense and help improve the rush up front.
I love this kid's attitude. Not only did he jump on our offer immediately, he's willing to play wherever need be as long as he gets on the field. I wish they all had his attitude.
I love this kid's attitude. Not only did he jump on our offer immediately, he's willing to play wherever need be as long as he gets on the field. I wish they all had his attitude.
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Champion10
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lol love your sig man
guff
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If you have reservations about Weis' greatness you better not have any about his work ethic. Watching tape of high school kids at 5:30 am? Stevie Sunvisor doesn't even schedule tee times that early. The only way I'm getting out of bed at 5:30 am is if it's on fire.
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iloveirish_12
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Does this dude have any stars,yet?
LuckoftheIrish86
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iloveirish_12 said:
I believe stars arent given out until May
Óglaigh_na_hÉireann
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iloveirish_12 said:
Nope.. but keep in mind how early it is in the process, Scout and Rivals have a ton of information they have to first attain and then filter through to find the best prospects.
Kerry Neil is Mr. Anonymous.
Óglaigh_na_hÉireann
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LuckoftheIrish86 said:
Well, Scout has given out premature 5 & 4 star rankings. Most of them are obvious picks, like Clausen as a 5 star.. I'm not sure who decided to give Ben Martin only 4 stars considering he's widely regarded as the best prospect in Ohio...
..and I think we're in the lead for him, too. The guy said that he would root for ND on some drives and OSU on others during the game... and most importantly he said that everyone at his school assumed he would be rooting for ND. That has meaning, believe it or not.. he's told people, or at least left them with the impression that ND is maybe just a little bit higher up on his list than OSU. The guy has visited ND, too (I think), so he can't be let-down by making another visit... I've also heard rumors that Clausen has been giving other prospects a little nudge toward ND.. but again those are just rumors.
SillyIrish
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Can't wait to see his rating, but it really doesn't matter because obviously CW was impressed. Recruiting services will probably have him at like three stars because he verbed early and to ND. Wouldn't be the first time a recruit gets punished for making an early decision.
jiggafini19
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Tremendous excitement. Everyone has been wondering who the first guy would be and now we know.
Clausen, Ragone, Trattou and Andre Jones are rumored to be silent verbals, Oglesby and Martin strong leans.
Things are off and running.
Clausen, Ragone, Trattou and Andre Jones are rumored to be silent verbals, Oglesby and Martin strong leans.
Things are off and running.
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Champion10
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WOW were did you here that all those guys are silent!
SillyIrish
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Man, I hope you're right about those recruits also curious about where you got the info from. I got a bad feeling about Jones, I know he has family in Ind., but for some reason I think he'll stay in Texas. Hope I'm wrong though.
jiggafini19
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The rumors are swirling on varoius sites, but I asked Jason Sapp over at BGI and he said the buzz on campus is the same with regards to these guys. Trattou and Jones are the two that seem to have the most confidence.
jiggafini19
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Neal Kicks Off Notre Dame's Next Class
Pete Sampson
Before Friday, Kerry Neal only knew Notre Dame from letters.
The 6-foot-3, 228-pound defensive end from Bunn, N.C., had never spoken to an Irish coach. He'd never seen the campus other than from watching "Rudy" on television. But when Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis offered a scholarship yesterday, Neal accepted, making him the first verbal commitment in the Irish recruiting class of 2007.
"It's probably one of the best schools you can go to," Neal said. "Charlie Weis, he's won three Super Bowls. That's like the best you can get right there."
Neal plans to visit Notre Dame late next month for a spring practice with his high school coach John Howie. Howie knew Neal's recruitment was about to pick up when offers came from Wake Forest and East Carolina in the past few weeks with North Carolina and Virginia on the verge of offering.
Notre Dame showed its hand on Thursday when assistant coach Bill Lewis called Bunn High School asking for Neal's transcripts. Howie told Lewis that he had a better highlight tape to send Notre Dame. Lewis replied that the Irish coaches had seen all they needed to of Neal.
On Friday morning, Weis called Howie to make the official offer.
"He said, 'Coach, I was up at 5:30 watching tape and I want No. 12 at Notre Dame,'" Howie said. "I told him that I might have some good news for him because Kerry loves Notre Dame.
"The thing that impressed me with Notre Dame is they did their homework."
Howie and Neal talked for an hour about making an early commitment without visiting Notre Dame. While Neal did have some reservations about making his college choice so soon, there was no doubt he wanted to play for the Irish.
"I think it was a no-brainer for him," Howie said. "Before we called back I told him that we could get in the car and drive up there if he wanted to wait. He said, 'No sir. That's where I want to go.'
In Neal, Notre Dame will get a defensive prospect that could play either weak-side end or outside linebacker depending on the scheme. Howie, who believes Neal is destined to play with his hand on the ground, said his standout runs a 4.7 in the 40-yard dash with a goal to get down to a 4.6 or 4.5. Neal made 111 tackles and 14 sacks last season. He also made 16 catches for 323 yards and six touchdowns as a tight end.
But understanding Neal's athletic ability means looking past sack totals. He started as a freshman for Bunn at cornerback and kept at least some of his pass coverage skills while growing into different positions. Last season against an opponent that ran the spread offense, Neal lined up at defensive end with coverage responsibilities if the tight end released. On one play when the tight end went out on a route, Neal chased him 20 yards downfield in coverage then made the interception.
"The coaches just looked at one another like, 'Oh, man,'" Howie said. "Kerry's not as big as Julius Peppers, but he's that kind of player. He could end up being 245 or 250 pounds. He's got a big frame and long arms. I told Coach Weis that he's got a motor and a half."
Neal is also a Notre Dame fan. He couldn't remember how he got hooked on Irish football as a kid living with his mother and grandmother but remembered Notre Dame always showing up on television. Neal said he's seen "Rudy" about 10 times and tried to watch Notre Dame every week last season, although he missed the Fiesta Bowl because of basketball practice.
"I'm probably the only one," Neal said when asked if he knew a lot of other Notre Dame fans. "I didn't think [an Irish offer] would come this soon."
Pete Sampson
Before Friday, Kerry Neal only knew Notre Dame from letters.
The 6-foot-3, 228-pound defensive end from Bunn, N.C., had never spoken to an Irish coach. He'd never seen the campus other than from watching "Rudy" on television. But when Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis offered a scholarship yesterday, Neal accepted, making him the first verbal commitment in the Irish recruiting class of 2007.
"It's probably one of the best schools you can go to," Neal said. "Charlie Weis, he's won three Super Bowls. That's like the best you can get right there."
Neal plans to visit Notre Dame late next month for a spring practice with his high school coach John Howie. Howie knew Neal's recruitment was about to pick up when offers came from Wake Forest and East Carolina in the past few weeks with North Carolina and Virginia on the verge of offering.
Notre Dame showed its hand on Thursday when assistant coach Bill Lewis called Bunn High School asking for Neal's transcripts. Howie told Lewis that he had a better highlight tape to send Notre Dame. Lewis replied that the Irish coaches had seen all they needed to of Neal.
On Friday morning, Weis called Howie to make the official offer.
"He said, 'Coach, I was up at 5:30 watching tape and I want No. 12 at Notre Dame,'" Howie said. "I told him that I might have some good news for him because Kerry loves Notre Dame.
"The thing that impressed me with Notre Dame is they did their homework."
Howie and Neal talked for an hour about making an early commitment without visiting Notre Dame. While Neal did have some reservations about making his college choice so soon, there was no doubt he wanted to play for the Irish.
"I think it was a no-brainer for him," Howie said. "Before we called back I told him that we could get in the car and drive up there if he wanted to wait. He said, 'No sir. That's where I want to go.'
In Neal, Notre Dame will get a defensive prospect that could play either weak-side end or outside linebacker depending on the scheme. Howie, who believes Neal is destined to play with his hand on the ground, said his standout runs a 4.7 in the 40-yard dash with a goal to get down to a 4.6 or 4.5. Neal made 111 tackles and 14 sacks last season. He also made 16 catches for 323 yards and six touchdowns as a tight end.
But understanding Neal's athletic ability means looking past sack totals. He started as a freshman for Bunn at cornerback and kept at least some of his pass coverage skills while growing into different positions. Last season against an opponent that ran the spread offense, Neal lined up at defensive end with coverage responsibilities if the tight end released. On one play when the tight end went out on a route, Neal chased him 20 yards downfield in coverage then made the interception.
"The coaches just looked at one another like, 'Oh, man,'" Howie said. "Kerry's not as big as Julius Peppers, but he's that kind of player. He could end up being 245 or 250 pounds. He's got a big frame and long arms. I told Coach Weis that he's got a motor and a half."
Neal is also a Notre Dame fan. He couldn't remember how he got hooked on Irish football as a kid living with his mother and grandmother but remembered Notre Dame always showing up on television. Neal said he's seen "Rudy" about 10 times and tried to watch Notre Dame every week last season, although he missed the Fiesta Bowl because of basketball practice.
"I'm probably the only one," Neal said when asked if he knew a lot of other Notre Dame fans. "I didn't think [an Irish offer] would come this soon."
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Irishdee
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jigge those players aren't silent commits. What a bunch of cow dung.
St.Kittsnd
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Irishdee, you may want to take a look at the number of posts Jigga has put on this sight. He provides alot of quality information for the site and deserves a little bit more respect than what you've shown him. If you know for sure that Jigga is incorrect, bring your source. Until then, please show him some respect.
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Gizmo
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respek yo
irishnd31
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St.Kittsnd said:
Agreed. Jiggs knows more about what is going on with ND football and recruiting than I or any body else for that matter will ever know. Just look at his posts about last year's class and tell me how accurate he is. His "guesses" and thoughts were damn near flawless.
Give the man some respect and think about what you post before you post it.
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joresendez
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I concur. Jiggs is a one of the main reasons that I visit Irishenvy first every day. If you don't appreciate his view....then leave.
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Irishdee
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Give me a break kitts and ND31 ... He copies and pastes information from other sites...
Yeah... he's wired to the program and he's got the pulse of recruiting all right.
Having a bunch of posts (aquired by copying others info) means jack.
FYI - None of those kids are silent commits - And my source is me.
Yeah... he's wired to the program and he's got the pulse of recruiting all right.
Having a bunch of posts (aquired by copying others info) means jack.
FYI - None of those kids are silent commits - And my source is me.