Miami a finalist for Former Texas WR DeAndre McNeal’s transfer destination

On Saturday, I wrote about the potential fit for former LSU WR Tyron Johnson coming to Miami as a transfer after leaving the Tigers. Today, we got news that another WR may be looking to make Coral Gables his future home.

Today, Ryan Autullo of the Austin American-Statesman reported that former Texas WR DeAndre McNeal will choose his transfer destination within the next week, with Miami being a finalist.

With a need for WR depth moving forward, Miami could be prime to add McNeal to the roster. McNeal is a big bodied WR, and could be good moving forward.

Back in 2015, McNeal was a 4-star recruit who played both WR and LB at Mesquite (TX) Poteet HS and put up serious stats. Over 3 varsity seasons, McNeal had nearly 1,000 yards and 20 TD’s rushing, 80 catches, 1500 yards and 23 TD’s receiving, and numerous stats on defense, to boot. So yeah, he’s produced in the past.

Standing a well-built 6’1” 230lbs at current, McNeal has the physicality of former Miami Dolphin David Boston, before the steroids got SUPER out of control, that is. At Texas, McNeal was moved to TE and had 1 catch for 9 yards in his only season in Austin.

One thing that may hold up a potential transfer to Miami is the fact that McNeal has a bit of a checkered past. He was recently suspended indefinitely — for an undisclosed “violation of team rules” — by the Longhorns, a circumstance which undoubtedly influenced his decision to transfer. Our SBN brothers over at Burnt Orange Nation wrote that following his suspension, McNeal was at home in the Dallas area with family. That is probably when he decided to leave the Longhorns.

As the 20th rated ATH in the 2015 class, DeAndre McNeal is a player with talent for sure. Mark Richt and company may not have time to do their due diligence in this instance, however, with McNeal wanting to decide his next destination in short order. I’ll put this another way: J.C. Jackson is a far superior player to McNeal, and Mark Richt made the decision very quickly not to engage with him as a transfer. While it’s not certain that the same will be done with McNeal, that previous instance this offseason does not bode well in my mind.

McNeal will evaluate his options, and make a decision soon. Texas has released him to transfer to any school other than a Big 12 school, Notre Dame, UTEP, or California. Unless he transfers to an FCS or Division 2 school, McNeal will have to sit out the 2016 season pre NCAA transfer rules, and would have 3 years of eligibility remaining starting in 2017.

What kind of player is McNeal? Check out the highlights for yourself.

More on this as it becomes available.