'12 AZ WR Davonte Neal (Arizona Transfer)

[anarin]

I didn't say anything about him playing corner in my last post?? And I'm defiantly not the only one, look at the last 5 pages and there our plenty of others calling him the next Charles Woodson. If he as good as he is rated at corner and we have Brown, Toma, Atkinson, and Onwualu I don't see why not have him play corner but since he/coaching staff said he is playing slot then that ship has passed

I don't think goodman is very good but he's one of our few big guys, a good teammate, and a senior he will be slotted to play at first I think and be dethroned mid year as our 4th reciever

I called him Champ Bailey. I think its more fitting =)

 

[STLDomer]

Onwualu won't be here this year first off. Second Toma isn't the play maker Neal is.

Until I see that Neal has better hands then Toma u can't compare them. Gotta catch it before u can run and I'll take a 8 yrd gain with no YAC any day

That being said Neal could very well be better then Toma and if he is then that's good for ND and I'll be happy but when was the last time a freshman dethroned a experienced senior that really has never made a mistake

EDIT: we all soon forget that it is ESPN that has him rated so high and 247 as him rated lower yet we say ESPN is dumb and 247 is trustworthy, if it wasnt for his ESPN rating in the top 10 we wouldn't be taking about him being better than toma

 

[NDhoosier]

^ people are going to hype up Neal so much that he is bound to fail in the eyes of the fans.

BTW GBDomer: Until the coach himself comes out and says Neal is only playing slot, there is PLENTY of reason to have a discussion on Neal moving to corner... His high school knows him better than all of us combined and he stated that he is a NATURAL corner...

 

[GBdomer]

"Davonte Neal was originally pursued as an athlete by Notre Dame, but he's marked down as a slot receiver for his arrival on campus."

question me all you want he will play Slot WR.

 

[TerryTate]

EDIT: we all soon forget that it is ESPN that has him rated so high and 247 as him rated lower yet we say ESPN is dumb and 247 is trustworthy, if it wasnt for his ESPN rating in the top 10 we wouldn't be taking about him being better than toma

Yes you would. Watch the highlight tape.

 

[GBdomer]

^ people are going to hype up Neal so much that he is bound to fail in the eyes of the fans.

BTW GBDomer: Until the coach himself comes out and says Neal is only playing slot, there is PLENTY of reason to have a discussion on Neal moving to corner... His high school knows him better than all of us combined and he stated that he is a NATURAL corner...

find me a link or a quote for this.

 

[NDinFL]

Yes you would. Watch the highlight tape.

Yup...^

I still remember GITF's post

"it looks like someone is controlling him with a ****ing joystick"

EDIT: Found it:

It is seriously like someone is controlling him with a joystick.

 

[NDinFL]

^ people are going to hype up Neal so much that he is bound to fail in the eyes of the fans.

BTW GBDomer: Until the coach himself comes out and says Neal is only playing slot, there is PLENTY of reason to have a discussion on Neal moving to corner... His high school knows him better than all of us combined and he stated that he is a NATURAL corner...

Do you know why GBdomer has the title of E.F. Hutton?

 

[notredomer23]

While he can play corner, he is the type of ELITE speed that has been lacking in South Bend for the past 15 years that Kelly is finally getting here. This kid can break a game open from anywhere on the field.

 

[ND NYC]

was "domer-depressed" due to the tee shep news...so i went and rewatched neals tape from page 1 of this thread.
well it did the trick.
cant wait to see what he can do for us.
he'll be wearing #3 at ND right?

 

[Sherm Sticky]

"Davonte Neal was originally pursued as an athlete by Notre Dame, but he's marked down as a slot receiver for his arrival on campus."

question me all you want he will play Slot WR.

I'm saying Russel ends up at corner at some point. Vbuck bet anyone?

 

[Bogtrotter07]

GB and TT, this is some $H!T CRAY! Two guys with burlap sacks over their heads in a dark room, swinging at everything they imagine is moving. More about the fantasy than reality; did I keep it simple enough? Thanks for the reality check!

 

[GBdomer]

GB and TT, this is some $H!T CRAY! Two guys with burlap sacks over their heads in a dark room, swinging at everything they imagine is moving. More about the fantasy than reality; did I keep it simple enough? Thanks for the reality check!

all you got say its sh1t cray. no need to add the this is some. BTW are me and TT swinging in your comment or not?

 

[NDhoosier]

find me a link or a quote for this.

you didnt look too hard, its already in this thread

"If I were coaching him in college I would say cornerback," Ragle said. "His ability to make a play on the ball is second to none.

"Yes, he could be a great slot receiver but what he does at corner is so hard to find. He has a natural knack for playing the ball and the man at the same time."

Do you know why GBdomer has the title of E.F. Hutton?

I will never question GBdomer's insight when it comes to recruiting, I love when him and GITF post in a recruits thread, but when it comes to predicting player positions for the next year, none of us really know and we all have plenty to discuss (that is really the ONLY thing to do between NSD and Spring practice). This is a viable discussion in my opinion.

 

[GBdomer]

you didnt look too hard, its already in this thread





I will never question GBdomer's insight when it comes to recruiting, I love when him and GITF post in a recruits thread, but when it comes to predicting player positions for the next year, none of us really know and we all have plenty to discuss (that is really the ONLY thing to do between NSD and Spring practice). This is a viable discussion in my opinion.

I respect and agree with what you say. I am just saying what Davonte does with the ball in his hands is very hard to find and something we dont have on this team.

 

[Rizzophil]

From today's presser:

BK: No plans for any incoming frosh (read Neal) to move to CB.

 

[gkIrish]

From today's presser:

BK: No plans for any incoming frosh (read Neal) to move to CB.

 

[GBdomer]

From today's presser:

BK: No plans for any incoming frosh (read Neal) to move to CB.

BK and Diaco want big tall physical corners. Neal might have ball skills but i mean come on the guy is 5 9 510. He will play slot reciever like a Kenjon Barner mold being able to run the ball and play in the slot. Whos going to play slot after Toma leaves next year? People who want him at corner need to move on.

 

[Grahambo]

BK and Diaco want big tall physical corners. Neal might have ball skills but i mean come on the guy is 5 9 510. He will play slot reciever like a Kenjon Barner mold being able to run the ball and play in the slot. Whos going to play slot after Toma leaves next year? People who want him at corner need to move on.

Disagree with the need to move on part. Nobody knows how the current group will stack up and Neal looks like a legit candidate to play CB. Don't dismiss that notion because they like tall corners. Talent will trump that especially if those tall corners will get beat. At least go tell Lo Wood they like tall corners. There are corners that aren't tall and do just fine. Honey Badger comes to mind.

 

[GBdomer]

Disagree with the need to move on part. Nobody knows how the current group will stack up and Neal looks like a legit candidate to play CB. Don't dismiss that notion because they like tall corners. Talent will trump that especially if those tall corners will get beat. At least go tell Lo Wood they like tall corners. There are corners that aren't tall and do just fine. Honey Badger comes to mind.

Honey Badger is one of a kind player. I just dont understand how people dont want this kid to have the ball in his hands. 1000 yards rushing and receiving but lets move him to corner. sh1t cray.

 

[TerryTate]

Our offense was a bigger problem than the defense last year.

Need weapons. We can manage the secondary with what we have.


Speculation will continue to go on until the fall, but the staff has made their decision.


Lastly, it might be smart to put Prosise in this discussion

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Honey Badger is one of a kind player. I just dont understand how people dont want this kid to have the ball in his hands. 1000 yards rushing and receiving but lets move him to corner. sh1t cray.

I hear ya bro. Been saying this for a while now that Russell is a better candidate at corner.

 

[STLDomer]

Disagree with the need to move on part. Nobody knows how the current group will stack up and Neal looks like a legit candidate to play CB. Don't dismiss that notion because they like tall corners. Talent will trump that especially if those tall corners will get beat. At least go tell Lo Wood they like tall corners. There are corners that aren't tall and do just fine. Honey Badger comes to mind.

If Kelly only liked tall corners hardy would be playing corner and brown Bennett and josh would be competing for the job with lo eliminated and McDaniel not switching

Im convinced davonte plays wr but...

The rest of the quote u left out from Kelly

"BK: No, not at this time. Not at this time. We moved Cam McDaniel over there to feel more comfortable with somebody that we'd get a chance to work with in the spring, then have somebody come in from camp. Now, could we move somebody in camp, certainly, but if we have an eye towards the fall, it'll be the guys that were in this room last night at our team meeting that are going to impact that position more so than maybe a freshman.
But I wouldn't rule out that we couldn't move somebody there, but I feel more comfortable as the head coach that we get a chance to work with somebody in the spring than throw somebody in there in camp.'

 

[GBdomer]

If Kelly only liked tall corners hardy would be playing corner and brown Bennett and josh would be competing for the job with lo eliminated and McDaniel not switching

Also the rest of the quote u left out from Kelly

"BK: No, not at this time. Not at this time. We moved Cam McDaniel over there to feel more comfortable with somebody that we'd get a chance to work with in the spring, then have somebody come in from camp. Now, could we move somebody in camp, certainly, but if we have an eye towards the fall, it'll be the guys that were in this room last night at our team meeting that are going to impact that position more so than maybe a freshman.
But I wouldn't rule out that we couldn't move somebody there, but I feel more comfortable as the head coach that we get a chance to work with somebody in the spring than throw somebody in there in camp.'

SLU i know your in favor of moving Neal to corner and we have been discussing this for a while. I am just saying i am 99 percent sure Neal will play Slot WR and punt returner. Defense wasn't the problem last year having a player maker on offense outside Michael Floyd was the problem. Floyds not even here anymore. so whats the bigger problem? If you dont see the problem i am not sure what else to tell you bro. Offense needs play makers. We need to keep recruiting the position and keeping these kids committed and on campus. Its extremely difficult for a freshman corner to come in a make a impact. I know you all like Tee Sheppard but the guy had zero meat on him. Neal needs the ball in his hands.

 

[STLDomer]

SLU i know your in favor of moving Neal to corner and we have been discussing this for a while. I am just saying i am 99 percent sure Neal will play Slot WR and punt returner. Defense wasn't the problem last year having a player maker on offense outside Michael Floyd was the problem. Floyds not even here anymore. so whats the bigger problem? If you dont see the problem i am not sure what else to tell you bro. Offense needs play makers. We need to keep recruiting the position and keeping these kids committed and on campus. Its extremely difficult for a freshman corner to come in a make a impact. I know you all like Tee Sheppard but the guy had zero meat on him. Neal needs the ball in his hands.

I think barring injury to Bennett or the other starter whom I am not convinced will be Lo by summers end Neal stays at reciever

But Kelly left the door open for someone could be Neal or maybe Hardy/Farley to switch

 

[GBdomer]

I think barring injury to Bennett or the other starter whom I am not convinced will be Lo by summers end Neal stays at reciever

But Kelly left the door open for someone could be Neal or maybe Hardy/Farley to switch

Than move Hardy, Farley, Salvi or Proise to corner. Not Neal.

 

[STLDomer]

Than move Hardy, Farley, Salvi or Proise to corner. Not Neal.

Hardy defianntly the most likely

If we consider Salvi in the main depth chart we are int trouble

Just say Farley is up to 200, he'll stay at safety

On Prosise from scout: Prosise

does a great job of reading receivers coming out of their stems and quarterbacks before they throw the ball to anticipate where he needs to be. He possesses great instincts and will often get in a better position for the ball than a receiver. Nice job of high-pointing the ball with very good hands and field awareness. Becomes a threat with the ball in his hands after the INT. Needs to work on his backpedal and opening hips. - Matt Alkire

Sounds like a safety to me, if u have bad hips at corner ur screwed

 

[Grahambo]

GB..I want it to be clear that I am in favor of keeping Neal on the offensive side of the ball as well as PR. I feel his skill sets will help the team better then at CB although he could be a CB and PR. With that said, I just don't want you to flat out dismiss it. BK did leave the door open and I believe we all should too. Doesn't mean it will happen but also doesn't mean it won't.

For record keeping purposes, as I stated above I would prefer he stay on the offensive side.

 

[NDhoosier]

Well, after watching the conference, I think Neal will stay on the offense. Kelly doesnt seem as concerned with the CB situation as we are, hopefully he has a couple reasons why. However, like STL posted, he did NOT rule out the possibility of moving people later on...

 

[TerryTate]

For the love of god, he arrives on campus in June. We can start the debate then.