meh130 1,043 Posted February 6, 2016 Share Posted February 6, 2016 Linebacker T.J. Neal to transfer from Illinois Illinois starting linebacker T.J. Neal will skip his final year of eligibility and transfer to another school, coach Bill Cubit said Tuesday morning. “He’s graduating, and he was talking about playing closer to home,” Cubit said. “That’s what he’s going to do. He’s a good kid, and I respect his feelings about what he wants to do. I wish him all the luck.” Neal, a 6-foot-1, 235-pounder, came to Illinois in 2012 after a standout career at McKeesport (Pa.) High School. He redshirted his first season, then played in all 12 games in 2013, making 38 tackles. In 2014, he had 98 tackles to rank 18th in the Big Ten. As a junior, Neal finished second on the team in tackles with 109 and fifth in the Big Ten. Only Clayton Fejedelem (140) had more tackles among the Illini, with Neal’s 14 tackles for loss ranking second on the team. Had he decided to stay at Illinois, Neal would have had an important role with the team. After all, he started every game for the Illini the last two seasons at middle linebacker and leaves Illinois with 245 career tackles. “He’s a good football player,” Cubit said. “Family is first. I understand.” Neal, who has a 4-month-old daughter, posted a brief statement on his Twitter account Tuesday afternoon announcing his transfer. “It has been a blessing to call the University of Illinois my home for the last year (four) years,” Neal wrote. “Thank you to Coach Tim Beckman and the Illinois football program for allowing me to be a part of this prestigious football program. I met a lot of great people and men that will be a part of my life forever. But I have made the decision to continue and finish my college football career elsewhere. I will be transferring to play my (fifth) year of eligibility at another university. This was not an easy decision, but it is God’s plan for me.” Cubit said he likes the rule that allows graduating players the opportunity to transfer without sitting out a year. “I think it’s good, Cubit said. Neal talked to the coaches about transferring “in the last three or four days.” Cubit said he doesn’t know where Neal will play in 2016. “I told him I’d help him,” Cubit said. “It’s a player decision, and we’ll move on.” Neal didn’t like a plan at Illinois to move him outside in 2016, so he decided to take the graduate transfer route.One of Neal’s friends —Brennan Marion — played receiver for Gus Malzahn at Tulsa. Marion reached out to Malzahn and the Tigers, who liked Neal’s film. That got the proverbial ball rolling. Neal already knows one Tigers player well. Auburn 2016 signee Paul James, a defensive end from Copiah-Lincoln Community College, was a teammate of Neal at Illinois in 2013 and 2014. http://auburn.247spo...fer-LB-43733646 "I was in a dream when I was touring the campus and they were saying all the stuff they said about Cam Newton and all the great players that came through here," Neal told AL.com. "You hear about it, but to see it was different. To see how they actually treat the players and talk among each other, it's a different culture. It really meant a lot."Neal had breakfast with the entire defensive staff and former Auburn coach Pat Dye. Dye spoke highly of the Tigers, of course, and the need to get back to a top-10 defense. No promises were made, but Neal expects to play immediately and potentially start at middle linebacker. "I've got to come in and do my part, be in shape, make plays and do what I've been doing that made me so successful," Neal said. "I did my research and there's no one on that depth chart or roster who has the experience and credentials I have. They want me to be the quarterback of the defense." http://www.al.com/auburnfootball/index.ssf/2016/02/grad_transfer_tj_neal_wants_to_be_quarterback_of_defense.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexasTiger 12,800 Posted February 6, 2016 Share Posted February 6, 2016 Good Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FoundationEagle 637 Posted February 6, 2016 Share Posted February 6, 2016 Yes please Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randman5000 4,223 Posted February 6, 2016 Share Posted February 6, 2016 More please Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddc 13,194 Posted February 6, 2016 Share Posted February 6, 2016 After all the talk on this site about how few grad transfers there were from linebacker position this came up really fast! That's college football for you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarTim 3,456 Posted February 6, 2016 Share Posted February 6, 2016 Great if he decides to come to AU Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AUIH1 1,515 Posted February 6, 2016 Share Posted February 6, 2016 Sign him up if we can. We definitely need the help at LB. wde Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tivo48 31 Posted February 6, 2016 Share Posted February 6, 2016 Please. Please. Please Article says he's blocked from transferring to any school on Illinois' 2016 schedule so that should help in preventing a Big10 transfer. I know circumstances were different but didn't Prosch come from Illinois too? Would it be against any of the transfer rules to try and get Jay on the phone with TJ? Also here's the article from 247 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AU64 10,122 Posted February 6, 2016 Share Posted February 6, 2016 Meets all the criteria: 1) solid playing time and experience 2) school with coaching issues ...players bailing out. 3) Looking for a place where he would have a very high probability of starting. ....ding, ding, ding....all the boxes checked. Sign him up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
around4ever 4,139 Posted February 6, 2016 Share Posted February 6, 2016 We have a history with Illinois transfers also, Jay Prosch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PoetTiger 1,896 Posted February 6, 2016 Share Posted February 6, 2016 If he can wrap up and tackle sign him up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PowerOfDixieland 3,225 Posted February 6, 2016 Share Posted February 6, 2016 Supposedly had an Auburn offer back in 2012. Wants to play closer to home, which is McKeesport, PA. Pitt or Penn State (which is not on the Illini '16 schedule) the most likely landing spots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auburn4ever 1,266 Posted February 6, 2016 Share Posted February 6, 2016 Since we only signed 21 or 22, I would think we have more than enough room for T.J. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doc4aday 1,887 Posted February 6, 2016 Share Posted February 6, 2016 He would love playing in the SEC for a season. If he has any NFL aspirations, Auburn would be a great place! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
autan 737 Posted February 7, 2016 Share Posted February 7, 2016 Sounds like a guy we could use for leadership like Countess. Wish we could have him for spring Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auburnphan 6,050 Posted February 7, 2016 Share Posted February 7, 2016 We have a history with Illinois transfers also, Jay Prosch. added one this year already in Paul James lll Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AubTigers 25 Posted February 7, 2016 Share Posted February 7, 2016 Jeffrey Lee @JLeeAU21 1h1 hour ago Illinois transfer linebacker T.J. Neal will take an official visit to Auburn on Feb. 15-17. Visiting WVU Feb. 8-10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tivo48 31 Posted February 7, 2016 Share Posted February 7, 2016 Jeffrey Lee @JLeeAU21 1h1 hour ago Illinois transfer linebacker T.J. Neal will take an official visit to Auburn on Feb. 15-17. Visiting WVU Feb. 8-10. Perfect. Get em on campus and anything can happen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigerbrotha12 2,362 Posted February 7, 2016 Share Posted February 7, 2016 Sign him up. Now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigerbrotha12 2,362 Posted February 7, 2016 Share Posted February 7, 2016 Would help, too that James III is here, since they more than likely crossed paths at UI Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jared52 4,354 Posted February 7, 2016 Share Posted February 7, 2016 Auburn Rivals article says he will accept if AU offers: https://auburn.n.rivals.com/news/illinois-transfer-lb-visiting-auburn-good-chance-he-becomes-a-tiger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tivo48 31 Posted February 7, 2016 Share Posted February 7, 2016 I can't come up with any earthly reason we wouldn't take him Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronMan70 3,277 Posted February 7, 2016 Share Posted February 7, 2016 " IIlinois transfer LB visiting Auburn, 'good chance' he becomes a Tiger " Jeffrey Lee | Senior Editor 2-6-16 "I really like the thought of going to Auburn," Neal said. "That's why I can't wait to get down there. I'm so excited to get down there and visit, get around everyone and get a feel for it. "If Auburn offers, there's a good chance I'll go there and play football for the Tigers." https://auburn.n.riv...becomes-a-tiger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Plainsman 948 Posted February 7, 2016 Share Posted February 7, 2016 He states not happy with the new staff at IL wanting to move his outside from inside LB. Do we have a true LB position in CKS's defense? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tivo48 31 Posted February 7, 2016 Share Posted February 7, 2016 He states not happy with the new staff at IL wanting to move his outside from inside LB. Do we have a true LB position in CKS's defense? To the best of my knowledge both the inside guys in a 4-2-5 are true backers. The "Star" from the 5DBs may be rolled down as another LB in heavier formations (Justin Garrett was who the coaches always touted for this role), but he'd immediately go to the SAM/OLB role leaving the "Mike" and "Will" guys inside. I believe Tre Williams played both the M and W spots last year, so if Neal comes in he could theoretically fill into either of those Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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