TE Mike McNeill

[Husker_Power]

NU Football: McNeill intrigues Huskers

BY RICH KAIPUST

WORLD-HERALD BUREAU

 

LINK

 

 

LINCOLN — Preceding any conversation about Mike McNeill and his potential impact with the Nebraska football team, check these facts about Husker tight ends from last season:

 

• None of the four who played caught more than 13 passes in the 14-game season.

 

• They produced just five catches over the last six games. None were by Matt Herian, who currently has a chance to make the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

 

• Only three of their combined 35 receptions covered 20-plus yards. Take those away and the average yards per catch for the other 32 was 7.5.

 

Back to McNeill. Think the Huskers need him?

 

"He could be big for us," offensive coordinator Shawn Watson said.

 

"He's got great receiving skills and he's got vertical-field speed. He can get down the field, he can get in and out of breaks. He's a big man who can play like a receiver."

 

McNeill offers a threat NU hasn't possessed at tight end since Herian broke his left leg in 2004 — eight games into the transition to the West Coast offense. McNeill displayed his talent by catching 97 passes for 1,816 yards and 15 touchdowns in his final three high school seasons in Kirkwood, Mo.

 

Now the catch: The 6-foot-4, 225-pounder is a redshirt freshman who heretofore has missed more than his share of practices because of turf toe and shoulder injuries.

 

"I think, honestly, his potential is through the roof," NU senior tight end J.B. Phillips said. "He's got a long road ahead of him, but when you have that kind of talent, you're going to have a lot of people who push you to make sure you're going to live up to your potential."

 

NU has rushed McNeill into the mix through four preseason practices. He has ground to make up after only working with the scout team last fall and then missing spring practice.

 

His left shoulder still might not be "100 percent as strong as it was before," he said, but he is getting after it in an attempt to contribute immediately in 2007.

 

"I think everyone dreads fall camp a little bit, but I'm definitely excited to get back," McNeill said. "I haven't done anything for eight months. It's kind of weird actually to have the helmet on again."

 

McNeill headed into a redshirt season after the turf toe surfaced last August. Then he dislocated his shoulder just before Thanksgiving and required surgery last December.

 

In between, McNeill provided hints of what he can do.

 

"He would show some flashes of really great things," Phillips said. "You could see those and it would get you excited, and you want to take those and make them an everyday thing."

 

Phillips leads the NU tight end corps but is known more for his blocking than receiving. The Huskers also have Josh Mueller and Hunter Teafatiller, who combined for six touchdown catches last season but just 10 receptions total.

 

One of McNeill's tasks is to bring his blocking to the same level as his receiving skills. For now, though, Watson said NU will see what it can milk from the latter.

 

"When I was being recruited," McNeill said, "they'd tell you what the tight end can do in this offense. And when you get here, you see it."

 

Nebraska coach Bill Callahan spoke positively of McNeill at Big 12 media days. First-year assistant coach Joe Rudolph knew about him by the time he was hired to replace Watson as tight ends coach.

 

"Nothing but great reports from our staff, nothing but great reports from our players," Rudolph said. "To me, that's exciting for a guy who comes back and earns the respect of his peers, even though he's battled through injuries early in his career."

[MCAT800]

With a better OL this year hopefully the TE's don't have to stay in and block as much

[zoogs]

The Bucs kept Herian to this point but cut Taylor?

[Eric the Red]

Whatever, he's gotta be better than anything we have now.....which is nothing

[I am I]

the bucs brought in taylor as a favor to cally. no offense guys, but taylor's phsyical skills left A LOT to be desired. that's why beck left, because he knew he had more talent but as we now know, he lacked any toughness. now, taylor's heart and his determination and leadership made up for his lack of speed and height and arm strength. without him, the Huskers would have been in a deep hole for a longer time.

 

anyway...we haven't had an outstanding tight end threat in a long time. this is yet another piece of the puzzle that BC has hopefully brought in which makes me so excited for this season. especially with keller's ability to spread the ball downfield.

[MCAT800]

To take this "O" to the next level we have to have a vertical threat at the TE position.

Look at the NFL and all they do at the TE level, they play inside and outside at the slot.

It has been a mystery to me as to why the TE position has been neglected in recruiting.

BC has picked up a couple but not the kind I would have thought would be BC's type of TE

[1Huskernation]

Amen to Taylor being the heart and soul of NU's return to prominance.

 

As for a tight end....We need somebody to be for real. With our improved O-line, receivers that can stretch the field, backs who can break a long run, and a QB that can launch the ball downfield....if we get a TE threat, the opponents will feel like the field is about as wide as they are up in Canada!

 

Go Big Red!!

[huskerstag]

I think Nebraska's still trying to shake its reputation as a running school. I'm sure that other schools use that tactic against us in recruiting. That's why we haven't had much success in pulling in the top wide receivers and tight ends.

 

We kind of stole Chris Brooks from Missouri, but he has yet to prove anything. Niles Paul is an in-state recruit and Mo Purify came from junior college. The other receivers and tight ends were lower rated prospects who flew under the national radar. Until Nebraska puts a couple receivers in the NFL and further distances itself from its ground attack days, it will be a struggle to pull in the big name receivers and tight ends.

[admo]

Good article... has upside, the potential, and four years. Hope he stays healthy to find out.

[skersOVRsc]

I'm really excited about this kid, hope he can stay healthy.

[Drowning_in_the_Sea_of_Red]

Could be a good one.

 

Stay healthy... and out of trouble

[HuskerJosh82]

Amen to Taylor being the heart and soul of NU's return to prominance.

 

As for a tight end....We need somebody to be for real. With our improved O-line, receivers that can stretch the field, backs who can break a long run, and a QB that can launch the ball downfield....if we get a TE threat, the opponents will feel like the field is about as wide as they are up in Canada!

 

Go Big Red!!

 

 

Well said! This offense needs as many weapons as it can get. That way we can shred USC's defense and make them and Mark May look like fools. Spread the Corners out, make it man on man coverage and we got a winner in Lincoln.

[KCforNU]

I agree with a previous poster: Once we get a receiver or two into the NFL, most talent will see us as springboard for them.

 

I think the first to go will be Mo Purify with possibly Nunn going in a later round. That will get the attention of receivers around the country. I mean any team competing against us in a recruiting battle can simply say, "When was the last time a WR went to the NFL from Nebraska?"

[skersOVRsc]

Could be a good one.

 

Stay healthy... and out of trouble

You are not supposed to say that.............knock on wood.