Green Bay Packers interested in Shawnbrey McNeal

[giacfsp]

Back Isn't Short on Talent
By Bill Huber
Posted Mar 8, 2010

The Packers met with a versatile running back at the Scouting Combine who rushed for almost 1,200 yards before leaving school one year early to help take care of his mother. Get the story in our latest Packer Report exclusive.

Last summer, Northwestern’s Tyrell Sutton was a training camp sensation. A player with a similar skill set — who would fill an important niche in the Packers’ offense — is on Green Bay’s draft radar.
The Packers met with SMU’s Shawnbrey McNeal at the Scouting Combine, a source told Packer Report.

With Brandon Jackson and Ahman Green, the Packers have decent depth behind starter Ryan Grant. But neither is a threat that keeps offensive coordinators up at night. Jackson caught 21 passes, with a long of 17 yards, and Green caught three passes, with a long of 12.

McNeal brings another dimension. At 5-foot-9 and 194 pounds, he’s got a different style than the hard-charging Green, who got the ball on 75.4 percent of the Packers’ halfback carries last season.


RB Shawnbrey McNeal
Marco Garcia/AP Images
In his only season as a collegiate starter, McNeal rushed for 1,188 yards and 12 touchdowns and added 31 receptions for 283 yards and two more touchdowns.
“McNeal is a very interesting prospect,” Scout.com draft analyst Chris Steuber said. “A transfer from Miami, McNeal played just one season at SMU and put together a tremendous season. He’s a versatile player who has the speed and toughness to excel on the edge and between the tackles. He also possesses reliable hands to be an effective receiver out of the backfield. The biggest concern about McNeal — and it was revealed at the Scouting Combine — was his straight-line speed. He only ran a 4.56 in the 40 and that will hurt his draft stock. He’s likely to be a mid- to late-round pick, who could develop in an offense if he’s given time.”

McNeal, a Texas sprint champion in high school, spent his first two seasons at Miami before transferring to SMU — located in his hometown of Dallas — to be with his mom, Mattie, who has diabetes.

“She's been dealing with it for as long as I can remember,” he said at the Scouting Combine. “And it's the worst it can be right now. If anything goes wrong, she can pass away at any moment."

Because of the situation, McNeal was given a waiver by the NCAA and didn’t have to sit out the season due to transfer rules. After carrying the ball 33 times as a freshman and sophomore, McNeal became the first 1,000-yard rusher ever for acclaimed head coach June Jones.

Whoever lands McNeal will land a talented, versatile and mature player.

“I had to mature, to grow and be a man early,” he said. “When my dad walked out of my life when I was 8 years old, it kind of gave me the role of being the head of the household, where nobody could take anything from me or disrespect the household. My mom helped me grow early, which is something most people don't go through in life. You're 16, at home, and have to pay bills, working my way to make something happen for the family. But the experience was great. I'd never change anything that the Lord put me through in life. He put me through things to make me stronger. There are always bumps in the road, to get to the next situation in life.”

http://gnb.scout.com/2/952406.html

[PK]

I hope McNeal gets a solid chance at making an NFL team roster. He certainly hasn't had an easy go of it to this point in his life.

[Lotus]

I agree with you — really pulling for the guy.
Green Bay, with a big-armed QB who likes to stretch the field, might be a really good fit for him.
Yes, he's going to have to play on special teams, but he might be a good third-down guy to go with Ryan Grant.
Good luck, Shawnbrey!

[davidpaul123]

I really hope he improves his 40 time on the pro day cause that can make a huge diff between round 4 or 5 and undrafted FA.