McNeill: "That Staff Is Just Great"

NC State commitment Alim McNeill discusses the US Army All-American selection, the Wolfpack, Bradley Chubb's sack record, and much more.
 

How exciting is this for you?
Very exciting.  It's very exciting.  It's something I'll cherish forever.

Does it feel like everything is coming together for you?
Definitely.

I feel like everything is finally paying off.  Sit-ups, push-ups... all the film.  It's paying off.

Do you have any family members that were in the Army or military?
My dad was in the reserves for a little while. As a junior in high school he went in.

How special was this for him?
It was real exciting for him, knowing he went into the reserves.  The US Army, it's a big deal.

Did you set this as a goal, to play in a bowl game like this?
Definitely.  My first goal was actually the Under Armour until I saw how special this was withe US Army.  They asked me to play and I said, "Yes.  It's a no-brainer."

How much has changed for you the last 12 months?
A lot has changed. I started putting in more hard work and stuff started changing.

I remember I had a summer ball baseball game and I got six offers that one day. It changed a lot.

You're a unique player. What is it about you that makes you want to stay at linebacker?
With my size, I feel like I'm a defensive lineman standing up.  I can play with any guard out there in the country. I feel I move fast enough, quick enough to catch a running back.

Coming on a blitz would be just like a d-lineman coming off the edge so I think that's unique.

In this game are you a defensive end?
I'll play some defensive end, but they want me to start at inside linebacker.

How much has baseball helped with your mindset?
It's helped a lot. Baseball is about competing, competing, and competing.  So it's helped with my competitiveness a lot.

How much does this help with your legacy here?
I feel it adds a lot and sets the standard of where we're trying to be as a program and player-wise where we're trying to get.

Hard work pays off in the end.  You just have to keep working hard.

How much will you continue that at NC State?
I'm going to continue doing that a lot. I'm going to be working so hard at State, it's not even funny.

I want to play freshman year.  I'd love to start, but it probably won't happen because we have older guys, but I'll continue to work hard and build my legacy at State.

This area has four Army All-Americans. What does it say about the football in this area?
The football around here is great. It used to just be South Carolina and further down south, but it's come up a lot. The football here is great.

Will you be playing in the Shrine Bowl? 
No, I won't be.

When you think of how NC State recruited you, what was it about them?
That staff is just great. The atmosphere there, everything there is great. My aunt went to NC State, she's told me great things about it.

That staff is like no other to me. I really clicked with them. I've been visiting State since I was a freshman, but that staff put them over the top.

The atmosphere there has changed a bunch.

How has your relationship with coach Patrick grown?
It's grown a lot. 

We talk about daily now about what we want to do, scheme-wise with me, what size he wants me to get to.  

It's changed tremendously.

Bradley Chubb and Mario Williams have set the bar. Have you thought about that?
I think about Chubb's sack record everyday.  Everyday I'm working out, drinking my water, everyday I'm thinking about breaking that.

Is there anything you can borrow from his game?
Just his energy.  I want to go out with the same energy he does while he's playing, and great things will happen.

Will you wear No. 9?
No, I've been asked that before, but I want to wear the No. 44.

I just like that number, it looks good.