DeAndre McNeal to Texas: Longhorns Land 4-Star Athlete Prospect

A steady rise up the rankings made DeAndre McNeal one of the most intriguing prospects in the 2015 class. Now the athlete, who's excelled at both linebacker and wide receiver, has committed to play college football at Texas.

247 Sports confirmed the decision:

The hype surrounding McNeal didn't begin as early as it usually does for most top recruits. The Poteet High School (Texas) product was more of a late-rising commodity, but the offers from elite programs started pouring in as he continued to showcase his potential.

He's now listed as a 4-star prospect, according to 247Sports' composite rankings. The outlet rates him higher than the national consensus and also notes he received interest from more than two dozen schools before making the final choice.

McNeal even personally pointed out how much things changed during the process:

Now the question is where he'll have the best chance to succeed over the long haul.

Right now, he's a player with plenty of upside thanks to an impressive combination of athleticism and playmaking ability. Those two traits are often enough to stand out at the high school level, but technique and understanding schemes becomes more important in college.

He's a raw talent and it's likely going to take some time for him to fully complete the transition. In turn, early expectations should be kept within reason.

McNeal does have the tools to eventually make an impact at either position, though. Greg Powers of Scout watched him back in October and came away dually impressed:

In an era where getting after the quarterback is crucial, outside linebacker seems like the position from which he could make the biggest impression. He'll need to add more power to his frame and moves to his repertoire, but his speed off the edge can cause major problems for opponents.

Defense would probably allow him to crack the lineup quicker, as well. He could be used as part of the linebacker rotation for passing downs before earning more responsibility as he gains experience.

Should they decide on the wide receiver route he figures to project as an outside speed threat. He's displayed good hands and has the size to develop into a reliable red-zone option. But again, there's work to do in terms of route running and learning the other fine points of the position.

Ultimately, it could take a couple years and maybe even a position change before fans see the best of McNeal. It's not a question of talent, but rather figuring out how best to utilize his skill set, which takes time and coaching.

The high ratings and widespread interest illustrate what type of player he's expected to become, though. One that's going to make a lot of key plays and prove his rise over the past year was no fluke.