2012 WR Recruit - Kaliser's Teammate

[Ponymon]

DeSmet's Neal is poised to be a big recruit in 2012
BY STU DURANDO •
Friday, November 12, 2010--CREVE COEUR • The catch that launched the mayhem came in the playoffs during Durron Neal's freshman season, more than three years before he would be able to officially choose a college home.

With the ball up for grabs, the DeSmet receiver was pinned by a defensive back against the sideline in the end zone. But as he jumped, he turned his body 180 degrees and pulled the ball over the defender for a 42-yard touchdown.

Simply spectacular at the time, the play became monumental in launching Neal into the plans of football coaches across the country.

"It was so spectacular that anyone who looked would say, 'We have to keep our eye on that kid,'" DeSmet coach Pat Mahoney said. "It was so special from start to finish that along with four or five other clips that were sent out, it was enough that he was on the radar."

As high school seniors prepare to sign collegiate letters of intent today, the first day of the national signing period, Neal still has 12 months to examine his options. That is, if he can endure the poking and prodding of coaches, friends and, most uncomfortable, strangers — who have driven him to shut down two Facebook pages in the last six months.

The list of interested schools has grown exponentially since Missouri made the first verbal offer when he was a sophomore. And the courting rituals of coaches have diversified.

Alabama sent Neal weekly game films during the 2010 season. Missouri coach Gary Pinkel once arrived via helicopter to watch him in a playoff game. LSU offered information on the success of freshmen in the program. Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly, Southern California's Lane Kiffin and others have penned hand-written love letters.

Neal's story is that of a lengthy battle for the services of a single player, a process that only the best high school players in the country will have to tolerate. It extends beyond the meaningless trash bags and shoeboxes full of recruiting literature and can become an obsession if a teenager allows.

"I'm pretty surprised it came so fast," Neal said. "I would have never thought I'd be in this position right now."

EARLY EXPOSURE

Interest in DeSmet quarterback Steve Kaiser helped Neal gain exposure in front of college coaches not long after his freshman highlight tape landed in the offices of major Division I programs.

That spring, about 25 coaches stood on a hill to watch Kaiser throw. Among his targets was Neal, giving recruiters a first-hand visual to go with the highlights that would continue to arrive at their offices and jump off the screen.

Neal went on to become the Post-Dispatch All-Metro sophomore of the year in 2009, when he scored 15 touchdowns as a receiver, ball carrier and return man. Upwards of 50 colleges requested game film and began to fill his mailbox with propaganda.

It's all part of a trend toward earlier recruiting as coaches try to stay ahead of one another as well as changing NCAA rules.

"The past five or six years it started getting where everything is done a year in advance," said Tom Lemming, recruiting analyst for CBS College Sports. "Some schools make more than 100 offers to juniors because they're all trying to one-up each other. When the NCAA makes rules, the only recourse is to go after players real early."

Coaches can't make written scholarship offers until a player is a senior, but they can make their intentions clear to as many recruits as they want. Neal quickly fell into that category as he visited campuses.

After his sophomore year, he attended a camp at Iowa and was immediately extended an offer. He attended games at Indiana and Arkansas and checked out the campus at Kansas after attending a combine. All have made offers, as have Wisconsin, Notre Dame, Kansas State, Illinois and Boston College.

"I wish I would have known the pressure it was going to cause," Neal said. "Sometimes it can stress you out a little bit. I have done that after visiting a school. I really like this school, but you're going to see another one."

BODY LANGUAGE

As coaches began passing through the halls of DeSmet, Mahoney prepped Neal, as he does all of his players, on how to best present himself.

Although the college coaches are not allowed to have conversations with recruits, Mahoney knows the first impression has a lasting impact on them.

He emphasized that Neal stand up straight to allow an accurate gauge of his physical stature, now 6 feet and 190 pounds. Look a coach in the eye. Shake hands firmly. Wear proper clothes.

"I've had a couple of kids come in when a coach is waiting, and the kid throws himself in the chair," Mahoney said. "There's no sense hanging around.''

Neal realized that his default facial expression, complete with tired-looking eyes, was not going to be a winning look. He spent time in front of a mirror at home working for a month on a more captivating image. He also made a conscious effort to change his image on the field. Previously a loner who would sit by himself or react negatively when things didn't go well, he sought to show coaches a different side.

"I learned how to control my attitude," he said. "When I'm on the field and things don't go right, I learned to keep it inside instead of letting it out. I couldn't take constructive criticism. I used to react physically, and I've learned that so dramatically good that I'm proud of myself."

TALKING TO COACHES

Neal discovered early that most of the mail he receives isn't worth a second look, so he stuffs it into bags and boxes in his bedroom. He will take the time to read letters written by coaches. But his stepfather, Keith Little, has taken control of the mailbag.

Little chuckles when he thinks of the cards that have arrived wishing Neal a happy birthday, merry Christmas or happy New Year.

He's also trying to reign in Neal's tendency to call schools to talk. Coaches are not allowed to call recruits until their senior year, but kids can make contact on their own and as often as they like.

"He'll call a school and the guy will talk to him for hours," Little said. "Eventually I told him, 'You can't keep talking to them. You have to get on top of your schoolwork.'"

Little had a chance to learn the basics about NCAA recruiting guidelines at a seminar at Mizzou. He attended a two-hour class in which parents were instructed on what to expect and what was allowable.

Meanwhile, Neal spends time each week researching the schools he finds most appealing. He claims to have a list of about six programs he is considering, but the only one he would name is Missouri.

Sometimes he uses computers at school when his work is complete. He checks out a school's academics, football tradition, the town and even the food. He reads message boards to see how fans treat players, especially when things aren't going well.

Neal and his family have not limited their geographic range. Oregon has made repeated contact with Mahoney, and he has heard from schools in the southeast, northeast and upper Midwest.

After Little asked Mahoney to send tape to USC, the coach sat down with Neal's parents and a map. He drew a circle encompassing everything within an eight-hour drive of St. Louis and asked how often they wanted to see their son play. He discussed the expense with information on flights to Los Angeles, hotels and rental cars.

"Unless you're really wealthy, you just can't do that," Mahoney said. "Then I showed them every school with a verbal offer inside that circle. We're at the point now where they're going to start to decide how narrow that circle is going to get."

Little has urged Neal not to limit his options. Neal admits he has a longstanding crush on Alabama, which has yet to offer. But coach Nick Saban has written.

Approximate driving time from St. Louis to Tuscaloosa: 7.5 hours.

LOWERING HIS PROFILE

Neal's junior season ended with All-Metro honors and offered a potpourri of experiences, including time at quarterback and running back. His highlight film, which is on Youtube, offers nine minutes of improbable cutbacks, speed and elusiveness.

He recently received further exposure at the Under Armour combine in Orlando, Fla., and has been selected for next year's Under Armour All-American game. However, he doesn't expect to attend any further camps.

"There's been an over-saturation of camps," Lemming said. "Juniors who have offers don't need them. There's no reason to go anywhere."

Neal is a known commodity, with possibilities that are likely to expand over time. And in recent months he has discovered the price that comes with a hint of fame. He shut down his first Facebook account last year because of an overload of activity. After starting another account, he deactivated again recently.

"I was getting a lot of people and had to let it go," he said. "It was just personal stuff, football stuff and random people who wanted to be my friend. People would message me and say 'I can't wait to meet you or see you play.' I thought, 'Where do I know you from?' Sometimes it does creep me out."

He hopes to lower his profile, but after seniors sign in coming days, the focus will turn to the Class of 2012.

Neal is considered the second-best player in Missouri because Dorial Green-Beckham of Springfield Hillcrest arguably is the best receiver in the country. In the St. Louis Metro area, Neal is second to Edwardsville defensive tackle Vincent Valentine on the STLhighschoolsports.com Super Juniors top 10.

How long Neal will take to make a decision is anyone's guess.

He won't be able to schedule official visits until written offers are allowed in August. Little said Neal might wait until the Under Armour game in January 2012 to announce his college so that he can do so on television. That means his recruitment could potentially last until then.

But Little has made Neal a standing offer.

"It can become a burden," he said. "So, I tell him if at any time he gets tired and is ready to commit, we'll stop and let everyone know. But I haven't seen it yet."

.Copyright 2011 www.STLtoday.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[Ponymon]

The Super Junior's List for the St. Louis area also includes another teammate of Neal's at #9 on the list.

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/high-sch ... r-juniors/

[Stallion]

yeah I followed Kaiser's season pretty close in 2009 and this guy was supposed to be a potential superstud

[mrydel]

Friend of mine here says Petrino is early on the nation's top QB and WR both out of Missouri. I would suppose Jones is also.

[Peruna 2K5]

If we want a chance at him we better act fast, he's racked up quite the offer list already:

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/r ... eal-101147

[Ponymon]

"Dorial Green-Beckham of Springfield Hillcrest arguably is the best receiver in the country." Lemming indicated in his latest newsletter that he believes this kid might be the #1 recruit in the country.

[goldenstang]

"Dorial Green-Beckham of Springfield Hillcrest arguably is the best receiver in the country." Lemming indicated in his latest newsletter that he believes this kid might be the #1 recruit in the country.

6'6' 220 40: 4.43 bench 295

Yeah I wouldn't be surprised if he was #1.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/michigan/footba ... kham-98834