Letter of intent No. 5: Four-star defensive lineman Alim McNeill
Measurables:
• At the Nike Camp in Charlotte before his junior season of high school had the sixth best Nike Rating score of 113.1 … At that point, was 6-foot-1, 262 pounds and laser-timed at 4.96 seconds in the 40-yard dash … Had a 4.27-second shuttle time, 34-inch vertical leap and a 39.5-foot power ball throw.
Stats:
• Senior: Finished with 60 tackles, including 18 for loss (one for a safety) and five sacks, an interception, two pass breakups, three forced fumbles and a recovery on defense, and rushed 20 times for 163 yards and eight touchdowns offensively.
• Junior: Made 84 tackles, including 18 for loss and six sacks, an interception that was a pick six, one pass breakups, two forced fumbles and two recoveries, including one returned for a score, on defense and had seven touchdowns (six rushing and one receiving) on offense.
• Sophomore: Contributed 71 tackles, including nine for loss and seven sacks, two pass breakups and a fumble recovery.
Ratings:
• Rivals.com: Four stars, No. 244 player in the nation, No. 16 defensive tackle in the country and No. 11 player in the state.
• 247Sports: Four stars, No. 92 player in the nation, No. 8 defensive tackle in the country and No. 7 player in the state.
• ESPN: Four stars, No. 41 defensive tackle in the country and No. 15 player in the state.
• Fayetteville Observer: No. 10 player in the state.
Honors/accomplishments:
• Selected to play in the U.S. Army All-American Game on Jan. 6 in San Antonio.
• Named to the NCPreps.com 4-A all-state team as a senior.
• Conference player of the year in 2017.
• Also is a standout baseball player and is an all-conference performer in right field.
Recruitment:
• Stock exploded after junior season with offers from Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Michigan and Penn State among others.
• NC State emerged as his leader in the summer.
• Verbally committed to the Wolfpack on Nov. 4 over finalists Michigan and Virginia Tech.
Recruiter of record:
Running backs coach Des Kitchings.
Quotable:
“Probably one of the best I’ve ever coached just in terms of his physicality, his focus. He’s a great athlete. What makes him great is his work ethic. … Alim is the total package. He’s just young and he’s going to keep improving.”— Sanderson head coach Ben Kolstad.
Scouting report:
• Elite level athlete for his size.
• In addition to his athleticism, is a playmaker on the football field with good instincts on defense.
• Played mostly linebacker in high school and will have to adjust to playing with his hand on the ground in college.
2017 projection:
The first question that will have to be answered is where to play McNeill — end or tackle? Once that is answered, odds are good that McNeill will be on the field early at NC State.