Alim McNeill pulls the trigger
Three-star defensive line prospect Alim McNeill had intended to wait until January at the U.S. Army All-American game to announce his collegiate decision, and he even set up official visits to Michigan (Nov. 25) and Virginia Tech (Dec. 8)
In the past week he decided that he did not need to wait any longer, and he set up an announcement Saturday morning on WRAL.com to reveal that he was verbally committing to NC State.
Shortly after he helped lead Sanderson High to a 36-21 road win over Southeast Raleigh High Friday night, capping Sanderson’s regular season at 8-3, McNeill told The Wolfpacker why he made that choice.
“The reason I picked State is the atmosphere there is crazy,” McNeill said. “Carter-Finley gets rocking pretty good. I love the coaching staff there. I’ve been visiting there since my freshman year, so I’ve got accustomed to the guys there and most of the players as well.
“The atmosphere is just there, and the education is great. NC State is a great fit.”
McNeill’s decision does not come as a big surprise. He told The Wolfpacker in July that he was favoring NC State, and he came close to making a decision in early-September. McNeill has been a frequent visitor at NC State for football games this fall.
One small factor, according to McNeill, that helped NC State even more was the Wolfpack having a verbal commitment from his teammate and good friend, three-star running back Trent Pennix, who verbally committed to NC State in June over Virginia Tech.
“He talks to me about State all the time,” McNeill confessed. “I’d say it influenced me just a little bit.”
McNeill (6-foot-3, 280 pounds) gives the Wolfpack its 20th verbal commitment in the 2018 class and the fourth from the Raleigh-area. He burst onto the scene as a sophomore when he had 71 tackles in 11 games, including nine for loss and seven sacks. He also had a fumble recovery and two pass breakups from his linebacker position.
A year later, McNeill tallied 84 tackles, including 18 for loss and seven sacks, a pick six, two fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles. Through 10 games of this season, leading into last night’s regular season finale, McNeill had 43 tackles, including 15 for loss and five sacks, a pass breakup, a fumble recovery and two forced fumbles.
McNeill is also a short-yardage specialist for Sanderson. He rushed for his seventh touchdown of the season Friday after running for six scores as a junior.
Rivals.com rates McNeill the No. 26 defensive tackle prospect in the country and No. 16 recruit in the state of North Carolina's 2018 class.
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