'12 AZ WR Davonte Neal (Arizona Transfer)

[tko]

aren't you a joyful thing...

sorry, recruiting realist. i can jump higher than that guy.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

imo, he will drink the Urban kool-aid and give his pledge that weekend to OSU.

We'll see how all these kids feel once Urban quits on his team after 4 years, just like he did at Florida. Whether it be for health reasons or not.

 

[tko]

We'll see how all these kids feel once Urban quits on his team after 4 years, just like he did at Florida. Whether it be for health reasons or not.

i would love for that to happen.

 

[GBdomer]

MY buddy told me Graham hired his high school coach on the staff at ASU. Trying to find some valid info for this anybody else hear this?

 

[BearGB]

MY buddy told me Graham hired his high school coach on the staff at ASU. Trying to find some valid info for this anybody else hear this?

Heard it was RichRod actually. We'll see

 

[BearGB]

RichRod for sure:

Rodriguez Adds Staffers - University of Arizona Wildcats Official Athletic Site

Davonte goes to Chaparrall in Scottsdale.

 

[GBdomer]

Heard it was RichRod actually. We'll see

Your right i read it wrong. Your from Green Bay too man?

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Tucson's a sh!thole. I don't see D!ckRod keeping Neal in-state simply by hiring his high school coach.

As a side note, I wonder if the harsher-than-expected sanctions for OSU will help us with Neal; especially if Kiel pops for us in the near future. It's a small momentum shift, but it might be enough to overcome Urban's evil powers.

 

[Carlyle Javar Holiday]

It really depends on how good of a relationship he has with his high school coach and if his family wants him to stay close. I would love to see Neal as a DB though. Against stiff competition he did tend to get frustrated on offensive. But on defense he is a sure tackler and has the hips to play CB.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

As of last Tuesday he wouldn't even let them in the door:

New Arizona Wildcats assistant coaches tried to make an in-person pitch to Scottsdale Chaparral receiver/cornerback Devonte’ Neal on Tuesday, but no luck.

Neal wouldn’t even meet with them, telling our Gannett partner, the Arizona Republic, “I’m going out of state.”

Arizona Wildcats recruiting: No Neal for UA, maybe a QB? - AG's Wildcat Report

Oddly enough one week later to the day Rich Rod hires his former high school coach. Interesting timing of the hire to say the least.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

The hire could genuinely be independent of Neal's recruitment. Chaparral has been an in-state power for years, and RichRod may think he's got recruiting connections in the Phoenix metro area.

 

[ab2cmiller]

With OSU losing some additional scholarships, the good news is that they may not have room for Devonte considering the need at other positions that still remains. From looking at a few boards, most are speculating that they only have room for 1 or 2 more commits.

The bad news is that Urban could simply revoke a scholarship from a current buckeye or one of their current commits to make room.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

With OSU losing some additional scholarships, the good news is that they may not have room for Devonte considering the need at other positions that still remains. From looking at a few boards, most are speculating that they only have room for 1 or 2 more commits.

The bad news is that Urban could simply revoke a scholarship from a current buckeye or one of their current commits to make room.

He can and will if Neal picks OSU. Look at what Hoke's being doing at UM.

 

[IrishLax]

When Meyer was going to come to ND one of the deal breakers is that he said he wanted to be able to take a significant amount of JUCO players over the next couple years and replace the utter lack of talent we currently had on the roster. To think he wouldn't try to do the same with under-performing players at OSU is crazy. He will make room for the guys he wants.

 

[NYIrish14]

When Meyer was going to come to ND one of the deal breakers is that he said he wanted to be able to take a significant amount of JUCO players over the next couple years and replace the utter lack of talent we currently had on the roster. To think he wouldn't try to do the same with under-performing players at OSU is crazy. He will make room for the guys he wants.

Really? Where did you hear this? Not being an a$$. Im just curious.

 

[ant80]

When Meyer was going to come to ND one of the deal breakers is that he said he wanted to be able to take a significant amount of JUCO players over the next couple years and replace the utter lack of talent we currently had on the roster. To think he wouldn't try to do the same with under-performing players at OSU is crazy. He will make room for the guys he wants.

Ohio State is pretty stacked at most positions. Youth, some poor coaching and suspensions were the reasons for the poor performance this year.

The vest didn't leave the cupboard bare. Besides, Urban hasn't offered any JUCO players since being hired so far. He isn't going to do it.

 

[IrishLax]

Ohio State is pretty stacked at most positions. Youth, some poor coaching and suspensions were the reasons for the poor performance this year.

The vest didn't leave the cupboard bare. Besides, Urban hasn't offered any JUCO players since being hired so far. He isn't going to do it.

Not saying he'd take JUCOs, saying he'd take better players where and when available and dispose of any of the guys on the roster he inherits that he doesn't like. Of course the cupboard isn't bare.................................. the point is if he wants a guy, he'll have room.

#context

 

[ab2cmiller]

It looks like Neal is at least willing to talk to Arizona and ASU now. Despite that, it still seems likely he will leave the state. Said some great things about his visit to ND.
Chaparral's Davonte' Neal now open to ASU, Arizona, will visit Ohio State

Chaparral's Davonte' Neal now open to ASU, Arizona, will visit Ohio State

Scottsdale Chaparral senior receiver/cornerback/kick returner Davonte' Neal said he will take a recruiting trip to Ohio State on Jan. 13, then take a trip to Arkansas the following weekend.

He already has visited Notre Dame. He can take two other retruiting trips. But he is leaving it open at this point. He said "it's going to be a while" before he make a decision on where he'll go to college.

"This is the beginning of the recruiting for me," Neal said after a Wednesday workout at his father's gym, The Athletes' Factory, in north Scottsdale. "I'm not going to rush the process. I'm going to enjoy it."

Neal, a two-time Gatorade Arizona Football Player of the Year, said he is now open to both Arizona State and Arizona.

He said his dad, Luke, spoke with ASU head coach Todd Graham shortly after Graham was hired last week.

Davonte' said he sees UA's hire this week of his high school coach, Charlie Ragle, as a plus.

"At first, we were kind of distant from ASU and UA," Davonte' said. "Now we're going to listen out of respect for Coach Ragle, after the things he has helped me and my dad with. We've got a great relationship. So we're going to listen to what they have to say."

"ASU is the same, we're going to listen to what they have to say."

Neal said he hasn't committed to making any official trips to ASU and UA yet.

He said his lone recruiting trip so far, to Notre Dame, was quite impressive, mainly because the coaches and players seemed to want to get to know him more as a person than a football player.

"I love it," Neal said. "The coaches were very friendly. There were times we sat down and talked about life, not football. They made sure academics were first. That's what I'm going to school for, the academics first, and football second.

"The players were great. They showed me a good time. They made it feel really easy. I liked it a lot."

He said he likes the Ohio State tradition and new coach Urban Meyer's resume, and is impressed by Arkansas' offense.

Neal said he is open to playing either side of the ball, even playing both sides, in college. But college are looking at Neal more as a slot receiver and kick returner. He has been compared to Chicago Bears receiver/returner Devin Hester.

Neal returned three kickoffs and two punts for touchdowns this past season. He scored 35 touchdowns and had more than 1,000 yards both rushing and receiving.

He will be playing in the Jan. 5 Under Armour All-American Game at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla., along with his Chaparral teammate, quarterback Connor Brewer, and Tempe Corona del Sol offensive tackle Andrus Peat.

He said he has been told that he will play both offense and defense and on special teams. The game will be televised on ESPN.

Neal said he is looking forward to hooking up with Brewer one last time. After that, Brewer will be making his move to Texas to start the spring semester and get on with his college career.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

Sounds like Russel is likely to select the Irish in a couple days, giving them a RB/Slot pledge. How does this affect Neal's recruitment? Is he similar to Agholor, in that the staff will make room for him regardless?

 

[TerryTate]

Always room for Neal

 

[BleedBlueGold]

Always room for Neal

I would hope so. Just thought I'd ask to be sure, though. Thanks.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Always room for Neal

^This!

 

[ab2cmiller]

You take both Neal and Agholor no matter what. Partly because they are so explosive. Partly because they are just as good on the defensive side of the ball as they are on offense.

 

[Couv Domer]

Sounds like Russel is likely to select the Irish in a couple days, giving them a RB/Slot pledge. How does this affect Neal's recruitment? Is he similar to Agholor, in that the staff will make room for him regardless?

BBG,
Just curious why you think Russell picks ND over UW? I live in the PNW, and most people here think he's a strong UW lean (I'm sure there's some local bias). I hope you're right, just have an uneasy feeling about this one.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

BBG,
Just curious why you think Russell picks ND over UW? I live in the PNW, and most people here think he's a strong UW lean (I'm sure there's some local bias). I hope you're right, just have an uneasy feeling about this one.

Just going by what I read in his thread...

 

[IrishFrog]

JNewbergESPN: IMO pound for pound Davonte Neal may b best player in country. Playing both WR & CB #UAgame [via Twitter]

 

[arrowryan]

I hope Darby gets in his ear enough to commit to Notre Dame

 

[BeauBenken]

JNewbergESPN: IMO pound for pound Davonte Neal may b best player in country. Playing both WR & CB #UAgame [via Twitter]

Ohhhh boy...that one gets the juices flowin'.

 

[BleedBlue&Gold]

watching the under armour practice, they were talking about him not committing until after signing day. reason being is just starting the process. we'll see.

 

[Rocky2820]

watching the under armour practice, they were talking about him not committing until after signing day. reason being is just starting the process. we'll see.

Sounds like a risk on his part of some schools filling up. At what point after signing day to we decide on 5th years?