More Top Stories - Sponsored by FansKnowBest.com
Scouting Combine Day 3
...Day 3 of the NFL Scouting Combine examines the top collegiate linebackers and defensive linemen in this year’s draft. Pass-rushing defensive ends are always...
Scouting Combine Day 2
...The second day of the NFL Scouting Combine featured the workouts of the skill position players: quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers. Let’s take a closer look...
Scouting Combine Day 1
...The NFL Scouting Combine got underway in earnest on Saturday, February 22nd. The nation’s top college talent gathered in Indianapolis on...
McCreary getting some ACC interest
Jason Pughe
Updated April 18, 2008...
.
Hopewell High School in Huntersville, North Carolina is the home of a 6-0 280 pound Center/Long Snapper prospect. Al McCreary has a 5.33 40 time, but he also holds the school record for bench press at 405. Right now, McCreary doesn’t have any offers but he’s hearing from a couple of ACC schools.
“No one has offered me yet, but I was at North Carolina on Monday and they invited me to come to their camp,” he said. “I also received a letter from Wake Forest with them inviting me to come to their camp too. My top schools are North Carolina, Wake Forest, West Virginia, and Appalachian State. I haven’t really narrowed it down yet but North Carolina and Wake Forest are recruiting me the hardest. My coach got a letter from Coach Butch Davis from North Carolina requesting game tape on me and Wake Forest has sent me information requesting that I come to the camps.”
In each school, McCreary is looking for a few things that will help make his decision easier.
“Primarily, I am looking at academics because I am not going to a four year football camp; I am going to a four year college,” McCreary said. “I’m also looking at the caliber of coaches at each school and the program history.”
Last year, McCreary took 3 unofficial visits and this summer he plans on visiting a number of camps. The visits gave him a unique opportunity to see each campus inside and out.
“Last year I took unofficial visits to North Carolina, Appalachian State, and West Virginia,” he said. “I’ve been to Wake Forest a couple of times for their camps. I like North Carolina’s campus because it’s really open and friendly. I also like Wake Forest’s complex and how it is set up. When I went up to West Virginia they were remodeling a lot, so I was unable to tour the campus. They just redid their football complex and it was really nice. I was really impressed with everyone. I am planning on going to 10 to 13 camps this summer which include but are not limited to Wake Forest, North Carolina, West Virginia, Appalachian State, Clemson, Auburn, Virginia, and Marshall. There’s probably more, I just can’t name them all.”
On the field, McCreary has tremendous power and is very intelligent. This off-season he plans on working on his foot speed and explosion off the ball. He grew up a West Virginia fan and models his game after a former Mountaineer offensive lineman.
“Growing up in a West Virginia house, I’ve been able to watch most of their games,” he said. “I try to model my game after former center Dan Mozes. He won the Rimington and is very hard nosed and smart. There are three generations of West Virginia grads in my family and they are my favorite team. There’s not really any other school that’s competing for my affection.”
As the offers start to come, McCreary is in no hurry to decide. He wants to see what every school has to offer and make an informed decision.
“If I had all my offers right now, I wouldn’t be ready to decide,” McCreary said. “I’d have to go visit my top five colleges and narrow it down. I’d have to talk to the coaches and academic advisors individually too. I am going to keep working hard right now to try and get some offers.”
Al McCreary Highlight Video:
http://www.athletevault.com/Videos/AlMcCrearyAV.html