'12 AZ WR Davonte Neal (Arizona Transfer)

[johnnykillz]

I think we're setting ourselves up for a hell of a heartbreak.

I hope I'm wrong.

 

[Kansas Irish]

Pros:
Dad's high on ND
Neal's high school has one of the highest grad rates in the state so education would be a priority, as expressed by dad
ND's recruiting has been what the family asked

Cons:
Proximity, not sure Mama Neal wants him too far away
Former high school coach is at UA
Two of his former teammates signed at UA

I'm hoping dad continues to help. He would be a great supplement to this class and could fill in some voids.

 

[BobD]

I'm 100% sure Davonte is going to come to Notre Dame or go somewhere else.

 

[Irish YJ]

Pros:
Dad's high on ND
Neal's high school has one of the highest grad rates in the state so education would be a priority, as expressed by dad
ND's recruiting has been what the family asked

Cons:
Proximity, not sure Mama Neal wants him too far away
Former high school coach is at UA
Two of his former teammates signed at UA

I'm hoping dad continues to help. He would be a great supplement to this class and could fill in some voids.

I'll add a few

Pros:
Play right away, potentially in 2-3 phases of the game
Could be the next rocket return man....
ND is on TV every week nationally, UA sucks and has very little TV time
Mama Neal can see her son getting a couple hotties prego at UA
Big fish, big pond
QBs UA has signed the last 3 years #s 81, 104, 121, and NR
In the last 3 years, UA has signed only three 4star players. All the rest, 0,1,2,3

Cons
All the hotties at UA
Plays right away, anywhere he wants, and likely the immediate star of the team
Big fish, small pond
All the hotties at UA

 

[TerryTate]

I think we're setting ourselves up for a hell of a heartbreak.

I hope I'm wrong.

Ohhhh nooooo.... That never happens. Can't wait for the soap opera

 

[stlnd01]

I'll add a few

Pros:
Play right away, potentially in 2-3 phases of the game
Could be the next rocket return man....
ND is on TV every week nationally, UA sucks and has very little TV time
Mama Neal can see her son getting a couple hotties prego at UA
Big fish, big pond
QBs UA has signed the last 3 years #s 81, 104, 121, and NR
In the last 3 years, UA has signed only three 4star players. All the rest, 0,1,2,3

Cons
All the hotties at UA
Plays right away, anywhere he wants, and likely the immediate star of the team
Big fish, small pond
All the hotties at UA

Maybe I'm just naive, but do big-time football players really choose a college based on "all the hotties?" I'd think most would be confident enough in their game to figure they could land hotties regardless of the quantity in any given locale.
That said, I've never been a big-time football player, nor ever had much luck with hotties, aside from my met-at-ND wife, of course. So I don't know what priorities run through the mind of young Mr. Neal.
My guess: He's choosing between comfort/proximity (Arizona), glitz/recent history (Arkansas), potential for greatness/education (ND). I hope he chooses wisely.

 

[jimmymac]

Maybe I'm just naive, but do big-time football players really choose a college based on "all the hotties?" I'd think most would be confident enough in their game to figure they could land hotties regardless of the quantity in any given locale.
That said, I've never been a big-time football player, nor ever had much luck with hotties, aside from my met-at-ND wife, of course. So I don't know what priorities run through the mind of young Mr. Neal.
My guess: He's choosing between comfort/proximity (Arizona), glitz/recent history (Arkansas), potential for greatness/education (ND). I hope he chooses wisely.

Yes. Maybe not directly, but when a player goes on an official visit and is surrounded by beautiful women that are constantly on them it serves as a great incentive to attend that university.

 

[TerryTate]

Watch the movie He Got Game.


It's a "Spike Lee joint."

 

[NDFANnSouthWest]

Never underestimate the power of hot woman.

 

[Irish YJ]

Never underestimate the power of hot woman.

^this....

Some kids are football first, some are fun first, some are family/proximity first, some are friends first, some are $ first, some are education first, and some are a combo..... Most of these, if not all play into the process.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

When Tyrel was at his first Buck party and someone ask who would give him a bj, and 6 girls responded, that was a major influence. I neglected to find out if any one or all of them were hotties.

 

[Emcee77]

Yes. Maybe not directly, but when a player goes on an official visit and is surrounded by beautiful women that are constantly on them it serves as a great incentive to attend that university.

Lots of truth to this. I'll point out that we may not be as disadvantaged in this area as some people think, though. Recruits necessarily spend limited time actually visiting a school and they don't get the full picture (as evidenced by the guy who turned down Clemson because they don't have a Chick Fil A on campus -- when in fact they do have a Chick Fil A on campus). If our current players do a good job introducing recruits to the hot girls at ND while the recruits are on campus, the hot-girl factor might cancel out. I seem to remember a young lady known as the "head doctor" who made it a priority to, ahem, entertain the football recruits during their visits. I'd like to think ND is above that kind of persuasion but another part of me hopes they still have someone like that ...

 

[Emcee77]

Anyone else think Luke Neal's comments about ND being a darkhorse makes no sense and is covering up the fact that we are the leader? We are the darkhorse because we haven't said offense or defense then he goes on to say it doesn't matter to Davonte anyways

In case people wanted the link to the above-mentioned comments:
azcentral.com blogs - Richard Obert - Richardobert - Neal will know college destiny for sure by Thursday

I think Luke Neal was just misusing the term "dark horse." Normally when people use that term they are talking about an option that is currently not a leading contender but could quickly and foreseeably become one. Reading the article, though, I think Luke was using it to mean something like the option that involves some uncertainty (i.e. its in the 'dark') because ND will not say for sure which side of the ball Davonte will play. Not a correct use of the term but a lot of people aren't as articulate as you'd like.

 

[Domina Nostra]

In case people wanted the link to the above-mentioned comments:
azcentral.com blogs - Richard Obert - Richardobert - Neal will know college destiny for sure by Thursday

I think Luke Neal was just misusing the term "dark horse." Normally when people use that term they are talking about an option that is currently not a leading contender but could quickly and foreseeably become one. Reading the article, though, I think Luke was using it to mean something like the option that involves some uncertainty (i.e. its in the 'dark') because ND will not say for sure which side of the ball Davonte will play. Not a correct use of the term but a lot of people aren't as articulate as you'd like.

That is a poorly written article.

 

[NDdomer2]

The timing seems to be in our favor. NFL Draft Analyst tweets inside info that Neal is ND and same day the Neal's come out and say he has made a decision....Let's hope its not a coincidence.

 

[Chris P. Bacon]

Recent post this morning per ESPN Insider as of 9:30am.

"UPDATE: North Carolina has remained in the background during the Davonte Neal (Scottsdale, Ariz./Chaparral) recruiting process. Yet the Tar Heels continually remained in the picture as one of Neal's final four. North Carolina was also Neal's final official visit.

If Larry Fedora's squad is faxed a letter of intent from Neal Wednesday, his plan will be set in motion.

"North Carolina, his grandmother lives there so it is a great situation there," Luke Neal, Davonte's father, told Brian Dohn of Inside Carolina. "He has the opportunity to play there on offense and defense, and that interests him."

Neal is expected to receiving immediate playing time at each of his final choices. North Carolina may not be in the lead, but the program continues to intrigue Neal. "

Again though, I'm not sure how accurate ESPN is, but it could play a factor that his GMA lives in NC, let's hope not though. And let's be honest, wouldn't his GMA rather not leave her house to watch her grandson play and just watch it on NBC, instead of driving to the stadium for every home game?

 

[CraigKrenzel]

Am I the only one that wouldn't mind seeing Neal play cornerback primarily? I remember an article that quoted his HS coach as saying that his skills on the defensive side are so much harder to find and he'd play him at CB... and it seems to be an area of greater need for the Irish.

We also seem to have an overabundance of slot players / combo players, many of whom haven't had a chance to prove themselves.

The idea of pairing Sheperd and Neal with the DL we have and some of the safeties we've managed to get.. that pass defense seems much more enticing to me... Let him shut down his guy and then take the punt back

 

[Domina Nostra]

Am I the only one that wouldn't mind seeing Neal play cornerback primarily? I remember an article that quoted his HS coach as saying that his skills on the defensive side are so much harder to find and he'd play him at CB... and it seems to be an area of greater need for the Irish.

We also seem to have an overabundance of slot players / combo players, many of whom haven't had a chance to prove themselves.

The idea of pairing Sheperd and Neal with the DL we have and some of the safeties we've managed to get.. that pass defense seems much more enticing to me... Let him shut down his guy and then take the punt back

If Neal signs, I think the coaches would wait until after the spring to figure out what they have at CB and WR.

 

[irishpat183]

UNC....I said that from the begining. I honestly think they're the ones to beat.

Just had a feeling after what he said earlier in the process(loved his visit and grammy lives there) that UNC would be who he ended up signing on with.

But I'm still holding out hope for the Irish. Neal and Sheapard at CB's would be fantastic.

 

[Sweetness34]

Watch the movie He Got Game.


It's a "Spike Lee joint."

One of my favorite movies!

 

[Rhode Irish]

And let's be honest, wouldn't his GMA rather not leave her house to watch her grandson play and just watch it on NBC, instead of driving to the stadium for every home game?

I don't think its as much about being able to see him play football as it is about the comfort of having family nearby. Going over dinner, doing laundry, spending time, etc. We think of these kids too much as football players only. They're kids. At the end of the day, as much as I love my grandmother, I wouldn't make my decision based on my proximity to her. But to the extent the grandmother in NC is a factor, I don't think her ability to watch the games is what is important.

 

[IrishLax]

UNC....I said that from the begining. I honestly think they're the ones to beat.

Just had a feeling after what he said earlier in the process(loved his visit and grammy lives there) that UNC would be who he ended up signing on with.

But I'm still holding out hope for the Irish. Neal and Sheapard at CB's would be fantastic.

This is just about exactly where I stand. I can see him ending up at ND but he's clearly been a football first guy from the onset and we didn't pitch that. I can't see him going to Arkansas. I can see him at ND, UNC, or Arizona and the only reason I guess UNC is because he was receptive to Urban Meyer's BS "I'll center the offense around you... percy harvin... blah blah blah" that he'd also be receptive to "you're going to be a superstar and play both ways from day 1" from UNC. He could definitely pick ND for a LOT of reasons. He could also pick Arizona for a couple reasons. The one consistent thing here is that ND has been in the mix... so hopefully he decided on us. We need him.

 

[irishpat183]

This is just about exactly where I stand. I can see him ending up at ND but he's clearly been a football first guy from the onset and we didn't pitch that. I can't see him going to Arkansas. I can see him at ND, UNC, or Arizona and the only reason I guess UNC is because he was receptive to Urban Meyer's BS "I'll center the offense around you... percy harvin... blah blah blah" that he'd also be receptive to "you're going to be a superstar and play both ways from day 1" from UNC. He could definitely pick ND for a LOT of reasons. He could also pick Arizona for a couple reasons. The one consistent thing here is that ND has been in the mix... so hopefully he decided on us. We need him.

Absolutely.

 

[Me2SouthBend]

This is just about exactly where I stand. I can see him ending up at ND but he's clearly been a football first guy from the onset and we didn't pitch that. I can't see him going to Arkansas. I can see him at ND, UNC, or Arizona and the only reason I guess UNC is because he was receptive to Urban Meyer's BS "I'll center the offense around you... percy harvin... blah blah blah" that he'd also be receptive to "you're going to be a superstar and play both ways from day 1" from UNC. He could definitely pick ND for a LOT of reasons. He could also pick Arizona for a couple reasons. The one consistent thing here is that ND has been in the mix... so hopefully he decided on us. We need him.

Where is the feeling coming from that he was receptive to Urban Meyer's BS? He didn't commit when pressured by the scumbag during his in home. There was some erroneous info that came out saying he tried to commit on NSD but couldn't for some reason. His father said he never tried to commit on NSD which was their plan all along. I've read that he was falling for Meyer's crap a number of times, I just haven't seen any credible source (or can't remember seeing a credible source) report it. Just curious, thanks.

Edit: Just saw this article on Inside the Irish. Keith alludes to the he dropped them, they dropped him question.
Decision made, Davonte Neal set to pick school | Inside the Irish

 

[TerryTate]

I am switching my vote to ND.

 

[IrishLax]

Where is the feeling coming from that he was receptive to Urban Meyer's BS? He didn't commit when pressured by the scumbag during his in home. There was some erroneous info that came out saying he tried to commit on NSD but couldn't for some reason. His father said he never tried to commit on NSD which was their plan all along. I've read that he was falling for Meyer's crap a number of times, I just haven't seen any credible source (or can't remember seeing a credible source) report it. Just curious, thanks.

Edit: Just saw this article on Inside the Irish. Keith alludes to the he dropped them, they dropped him question.
Decision made, Davonte Neal set to pick school | Inside the Irish

Yeah, I saw it widely reported that he tried to commit to OSU on NSD... then again, the Neals say they didn't. So who do you believe? I'm not sure. Mike Farrel (I think) said he did try to commit and then has stuck by his guns since, even when pressed on it.

I'm not saying with certitude that he tried to commit, but yeah... in my worthless theories/logic I'm operating under the assumption that he was receptive to Meyer. That seems to favor both Arizona and UNC. We'll see what happens. I see a lot of scenarios where does end up picking the Irish.

 

[johnnykillz]

I am switching my vote to ND.

Right...

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[GoldenIsThyFame]

Quote from Luke Neal via BGI:

"He used a different perspective dealing with it for himself. After the combination of research and our conversations about it, he understands what it is to make a business decision on your future instead of just the next three years."

 

[NDinFL]

Quote from Luke Neal via BGI:

Oh boy...

Love the part about his decision for the future, but note that he said, "instead of for the next THREE years"

Maybe I'm reading into that too much

 

[NDPhilly]

Quote from Luke Neal via BGI:

Sure sounds like ND lol.