2015 Incomer - ATH/WR DeAndre McNeal

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This young man has so much potential to not only be a great asset to UT football, but to life in general. Regarding football, there are so many ways the talented McNeal can be used in Texas' offense - while he doesn't have the "flash" of Daje Johnson, he does have the versatility to line up in the backfield, the slot, wide or tight. He should be a fun watch the next four years.​

A versatile high school athlete -- DeAndre McNeal carried the ball 127 times, caught 80 passes and also played some linebacker in three seasons at Poteet -- McNeal will settle at wide receiver with the Longhorns. Specifically, McNeal has been told by the coaches he will play at the X receiver position (on the outside), where his size and speed can be used vertically.

“Outside receiver is exactly what I want to do and that’s what I’m going to Finesse at,” McNeal said.

He doesn’t expect to wait either. Texas wide receivers coach Jay Norvell told McNeal he needs to be ready to play right away, and the 6-foot-2, 217-pound receiver is more than ready to do so.

During the recruiting process, McNeal, a highly sought after four-star recruit, told Charlie Strong: “I’m just really hoping I come (to Texas).” To which Strong responded: “I hope you come here, too. If you come here, you will get the first ball.”

McNeal isn’t too sure if he’ll get the first touch of the year or not -- he said he’s fine either way -- but Strong doesn’t appear to be decided either. “We haven't decided that,” Strong said with a laugh on Feb. 4. “I don't want to give that game plan. I just want to keep that kind of undercover.”

McNeal said the first step for the [2015] class’ plans is to make the everyday improvements when they arrive for summer classes and workouts. As for the final step, McNeal said there’s only one thing on their mind.

“We get to get in there early and start pushing for what we want, and that’s a national championship,” McNeal said. “I feel like it’s one of the steps we have to take to get to our destiny.”

[Full article here]

DeAndre McNeal checks in from Mesquite (Texas) Ralph H Poteet H.S. The 6-foot-3, 217-pound wide receiver will have plenty of opportunities with Texas. He, like so many of the incoming freshmen, is eagerly waiting to start his football career.

”I Just want to get in and finesse and have a great four years with Austin’s amazing people and my family aka my teammates,” McNeal said.

Dedication is the name of the game for McNeal. ”Progressing as a player also makes me progress as a man,” McNeal said. “I live in a neighborhood where there is a lot of temptation, but I have to avoid that while becoming a young man.”

”My relationship with the coaches gets better and better each day, and that’s what I love,” McNeal said. “I love they always check up on me not as a football player but as a young man. I want to leave a Titanic size impact on my fans especially the little kids. I want to be a role model and hero to them. To the parents, I want to be viewed as a down to earth person. As a teammate, I want to be looked at as a brother. To me, I want to be viewed as the finesser.”

He is an excellent wide receiver prospect who was a go-to guy and made key plays for his high school team. He has sneaky speed, good size and the penchant for making amazing plays.

[Full article here]

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Could someone enlighten me to the meaning of Finessing On the Football Field? Thanks.

 

Finis, Latin for end ergo finish. He wants to be the finisher on the field, i.e. the play is finished when the ball reaches the end zone. Finnesser...maybe...IDK

 

I've said before, the more I read about these guys the more impressed I am with the direction of the program. We seemed to have entered another "dark ages" of Texas football from 2010 - 2013, but now we are beginning a renaissance and rise back to the top. I can't wait for the season to get here. I don't expect a huge improvement in the win loss column, only a little better, but I do expect to see the Horns to improve their play, finish each game so that opposing teams will know they were in a real donnybrook with Texas.

 

He is fast but not a burner, good hands and runs hard. Obviously has a great attitude, will work hard and be good in the locker room. I remember a number of posters close to recruiting back in Jan. / Feb. that predicted McNeal would play right away and contribute - probably more at WR. We will see...

 

I agree with BevoJoe, i'm not expecting a huge step in the wins loss columm, but i do expect the team to improve to the point that they push the good teams to the edge so much so that they felt lucky to get out with a win............... but i expect in 2016 it's on!

 

I also expect good things from McNeal and am looking forward to see if he can replace Harris.

However, one of his biggest contribution to the Horns FB team has already been accomplished. According to the stories that I read, McNeal was instrumental in getting Malik Jefferson to come to UT. That had a lot to do with a remarkable turnaround in the recruiting season as well as helping to get a good haul at the LB position. Whenever I think of DeAndre, Malik is right there with him.

 

One is finessing, the other is harassing.

 

Fi-nes-sin’ - /fe' nes sin/ verb: Doing something at its greatest level.
Aus-tin - /ôsten/ noun: The greatest city on the planet.

Playing football at it’s greatest level, in the greatest city on the planet, is a lot of superlatives. But if you saw McNeal playing offense, defense, and special teams for the Poteet Pirates over the last 4 years, you’d know it’s not hype – it’s on the real. (I’ll save you a Google translation…that means that McNeal’s talent is prodigious.)

The key to McNeal’s ability to finesse is self-confidence.

- Not many 17 year-old athletes could withstand playing in Malik Jefferson’s shadow for 10 years.

- Several recruits made the news earlier this year, expressing concern over college coaches recruiting them, then leaving for a different school.

- Blue chip prospects don’t normally play on all three phases for their high school team, instead choosing to specialize on the position of their future.

But DeAndre McNeal isn’t like most recruits. Overflowing with a genuine confidence that never seems boastful, McNeal is self-assured enough to ignore what would cause most high-profile prospects to balk.

When Charlie Strong came calling last year, he was a solid fit for the Poteet star. McNeal describes Strong as “a great man” and “eager”, but that wasn’t what tipped the scale in the Longhorns’ favor. It was Strong’s confidence and singular focus that sold McNeal, “Charlie will do whatever it takes to win.”

Although McNeal was principally recruited by Brian Jean-Mary, his future position coach, Les Koenning, was fired after Arkansas annihilated Texas in the Texas Bowl. Unlike many recruits around the country, McNeal says he never hesitated during the staff turnover, “The only thing that changed is the coaching staff. The game will never change.”

McNeal’s confidence is obvious in a statement like that, but Strong and UT certainly helped ease their case when Jay Norvell was hired. “I talk to Coach Norvell every week. He's always asking me if I'm doing good and making sure I'm doing everything that I need to be doing to succeed at the next level. I really appreciate that,” said McNeal. He added that his conversations with Novell extend beyond playing football, “He [Norvell] is trying to better me as a man.”

Although McNeal was a standout linebacker and special teams player at Poteet, he made it clear early in his recruitment that he wants to play wide receiver in college. Lacking playmakers on offense, Strong and Texas were quick to acquiesce to McNeal’s desire to play offense.

Saying that Texas never talked to him about any position other than wideout, McNeal chimed in, “There is no doubt I will play as a freshman.”

There’s that confidence again. Remember, when he says something like that, McNeal isn’t bragging…he’s finessin’.

McNeal isn’t the only one that believes in his talent. A coach in Poteet’s district (12-5A) weighed in with lofty expectations, “Honestly, I think DeAndre will eventually be a better college player than Malik [Jefferson]. It might not be in their first or second year at UT, but it will happen in Year 3 or 4.”

The primary reason given for making such a claim is that McNeal is still growing. Assuming his abilities progress as he matures physically, McNeal will become a nightmare for opposing defenses.

If he does outshine Jefferson’s star, it will be a first. Flashback to December 2014 when McNeal committed to UT: his pledge was overshadowed by team-mate Malik Jefferson’s announcement.

But that was nothing new – McNeal had been playing in Jefferson’s shadow since the two stars played Pee Wee football against each other back in 2005. McNeal smiles when recalling the game from ten years ago – his team beat Jefferson’s for the city championship.

Even though McNeal and Jefferson grew up as close friends, the duo agreed to choose colleges independently of one another. McNeal says he didn’t know Jefferson planned to name the Longhorns as his choice until the night before they announced their commitment.

The media was at Poteet High School last December to take pictures of Jefferson, but that certainly doesn’t stop McNeal from having faith in his talents. The opportunity to continue finessin’ alongside Jefferson in Austin is a happy coincidence.

Since confessing their intent to each other late last year, the Poteet duo has been busy planning the resurgence of Texas football. McNeal admits that he had to brush off doubters along the way, “The whole universe says he [Charlie Strong] is mean and strict. To me, he's not. If you go to college and do what you’re supposed to be doing, then you'll have no problem. Coach Strong is a great man.”

With that quote, McNeal reveals his true nature: On field, in the classroom, with the ladies...he's 100% finessin'. In reality finessin' is a coverup for a genuine, humble, well-mannered young man with massive football talent.

McNeal is leaving home to write the next chapter of his story, called “Fin-austin”.

[Full article at HornSports]

 

I'm confessin' that I love McNeal's finessin'.

 

His finessin’ is a blessin’
Gonna be some sooner messin’
Y'all it ain't just window dressin’
Get a trophy for caressin’

I got carried away.

 

He won't be finessin anytime soon

 

Just saw it on 247. It will be interesting to learn what he did.

 

deandre's creed and legacy.....​

 

Damn core values.

 

Damn the off season temptations and distractions!!!

 

What did Oscar Wilde say:

" I can resist anything but temptation"

All the way to Austin Texas baby... LOT's of temptations....... Malik will help straighten him out.

 

Nothing offical yet but RUMORS are saying him and his girl got into.

 

I have to give Charlie credit for this. If you are going to have core values, you have to have them for everyone. Aggy had values that didn't apply to Johnny Football. So now aggy is swirling around the sec toilet.

 

DeAndre McNeal: As most know, Sophomore WR DeAndre McNeal was suspended indefinitely by HC Charlie Strong for violating team rules. I was told that Strong “sent him home” and his future in a Texas uniform doesn’t look very bright. Most who have followed Texas since Strong’s arrival know his suspensions aren’t just slap on the wrists. If I recall correctly, Daje Johnson is the only player to have come back from a suspension at Texas. The rest were eventually dismissed. I’m not saying you should jump to any conclusions just yet on McNeal, just don’t get your hopes up. He will not be with Texas as they open fall camp tomorrow.

One guy who could take advantage of McNeal’s absense is freshman WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey. He’s somewhat like McNeal as both are thought of as offensive tweeners. I was told, “he’s going to be too good to keep off the field especially with McNeal out”. We shall see. – (Andrew)

More on McNeal: To add to what Andrew has said, McNeal is now back in Mesquite. This suspension appeared to be coming for a while. I’m told, among other things I’ll leave out, that McNeal had a number of confrontations with coaches. And while that isn’t unheard of I was told that the team is such a tight knit group right now that the staff felt distractions like that are not good for the team chemistry.

[TFB]