11/29/2017 football Edit

Alim McNeill excited about starting NCSU career, but has one game left

Jacey Zembal • TheWolfpackCentral

Writer

Raleigh Sanderson High senior defensive lineman Alim McNeill was able to celebrate with his family in getting selected for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. (Jacey Zembal/TheWolfpacker.com)

NC State senior verbal commit Alim McNeill had a special presentation Wednesday from the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in his front of his classmates and teammates at Raleigh Sanderson High.

McNeill will play in the prestigious game in San Antonio, Texas, Jan. 6 on NBC at 1 p.m.. He’ll be joined by area players such as NCSU four-star athlete commit Ricky Person of Wake Forest Heritage High and uncommitted linebacker Payton Wilson of Hillsborough Orange High, who was selected, but won’t play due to an ACL tear.

The 6-foot-3, 280-pound McNeill verbally committed to NC State on Nov. 4 and plans to officially visit this weekend with prep teammate three-star running back Trent Pennix, also a Wolfpack commit. The duo proved instrumental in helping Sanderson go 9-4 this season before bowing out of the playoffs with a 35-7 loss to Wake Forest on Nov. 24.

Rivals.com ranks McNeill the No. 16 overall player in the state of North Carolina and the No. 26 defensive tackle in the country in the class of 2018. McNeill is looking forward to playing in one last high school setting, and a good week in San Antonio could elevate him from his current three-star status.

“I’m very excited, and it's something I’ll cherish forever,” McNeill said. “I feel like everything is finally paying off, all the hard work — pushups, sit-ups — over the years and all the film.”

McNeill’s father was in the military at one point. Making the Army All-American Bowl was one of his big goals.

“My first goal was actually the Under Armour game, but then I saw how special this one was with the U.S. Army,” McNeill said. “Instantly, I wanted to play in this game.”

His recruitment started to take off almost a year ago. He knows how far he has come in the last 12 months.

“A lot has changed,” McNeill said. “I put in more hard work. I remember the day, I had a summer baseball game, and I had six offers that day. That is when everything changed in my life.”

McNeill played inside linebacker for Sanderson and enjoys the position.

“I feel at my size I am a defensive lineman standing up,” McNeill said. “I can play with any guard in the country. I feel I move fast enough and quickly enough to catch any running back. Me coming on a blitz is like coming off the edge.”

If he does end up at defensive end for NCSU, he hopes to chase down Bradley Chubb’s impressive statistics. However, he won’t be doing it in a No. 9 jersey at Carter-Finley Stadium. He wants to leave a mark in No. 44 with the Wolfpack and don’t expect him to carry on the Chubb post-sack dancing tradition.

“I want to play my freshman year , and I would love to start,” McNeill said. “That staff is great. The atmosphere there is great. My aunt went to NC State, and she has told me great things about it. That staff is like no other to me.

“I think about Chubb’s sack record every day. I’m thinking about breaking that. I want to go out with the same energy he has.”

Other colleges continue to check in with McNeill, but he is loyal to the Wolfpack coaches.

“I have really clicked with them and have been visiting NC State since I was a freshman,” McNeill said. “Their staff really put them at the top, and the atmosphere has really changed a bunch.

“My relationship with [NCSU defensive line] Coach [Kevin] Patrick is tremendous, and we talk just about daily now. We already talk about what they want to do scheme-wise with me and what they want me to get to strength-wise.”