Mobile-area 4-star linebacker Isaac McNeil has set his commitment date for June 2, and his decision will be aired on Rivals' YouTube channel, per On3's Hayes Fawcett. McNeil, a target for the Auburn Tigers, Alabama Crimson Tide, Florida Gators, and Georgia Bulldogs, has also played the running back, kicker, and punter positions, but is an outside linebacker/edge rusher by trade.
The Vigor High School star is a Top 85 Recruit in the 2027 Rivals300. He currently has no crystal ball predictions from 247Sports, though the LSU Tigers, Miami Hurricanes, Michigan Wolverines, Tennessee Volunteers, Texas Longhorns, USC Trojans, Texas A&M Aggies, and Oklahoma Sooners, the latter two of which have been dominating in the 2027 class, have already been ruled out.
Of note, On3 gives Auburn an 84% chance to land McNeil. The Tigers hosted McNeil on a multi-day visit this spring, and the meeting went well enough for reporters to see Auburn as a clear favorite.
READ MORE: Auburn barely a factor in Florida recruit's ACC rivalry-based commitment decision
Alabama may be Auburn's biggest roadblock for Isaac McNeil
The Prichard, Alabama, native may be deciding between the two in-state Iron Bowl rivals, with the Gators in a distant third. Since the beginning, the Crimson Tide have been a factor in his recruiting, and Touchdown Alabama Mag has been documenting it directly from McNeil and his family.
“They are saying that I am a high priority for them and that I can be a strong asset to their defense in the future,” said McNeil recently. Crimson Tide inside linebackers coach Chuck Morrell has been pursuing him, believing that McNeil could do his best work inside.
There might be something to that, too. McNeil is physical and loves engaging with offensive linemen. He is fearless downhill and has solid tackling form, making him a potential run-stopping thumper. Cover Crimson's Clint Lamb sees the vision for McNeil in Tuscaloosa.
"Isaac McNeil is an ideal fit in Wommack’s defense. Can play Mike (field) or Stinger (boundary) due to combination of range, athleticism and stopping power. Plus, experience as an edge and off-ball blitzer would help when asked to do things like Deontae Lawson in 2025. Perfect fit," Lamb said.
Could McNeil be leveraging Auburn to eventually flip to Alabama? That's awfully cynical to think, but there's no better way to drum up some interest in the Yellowhammer State's blood feud, given how stagnant it's been since 2020. Plus, that'd be a lucrative road for McNeil and the people around him to use the Tigers for resources before flipping to the Tide.
There's a week and a half until McNeil makes his decision. Unfortunately, in modern recruiting, this probably won't be the final one. But it'll be the first inkling of where one of the top edge rushers in the region plans on playing next year.
And if it's Auburn, then Alex Golesh and, mostly, DJ Durkin, deserve props for beating out both of their more successful rivals to reel in the Gulf Coast star for a 2027 class that's slowly gaining momentum.
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