Isaac McNeil’s rise has been nothing short of electric. Just eight months ago, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound linebacker from Vigor High School in Mobile, Alabama, was flying under the radar with a lone offer from Jackson State. Fast forward to today, and McNeil’s recruitment has exploded - now sitting at 30 total offers, nearly 20 of which came during a whirlwind January.
That kind of surge doesn’t happen by accident. Coaches across the country took notice during the Winter Contact Period, and McNeil’s name quickly became a staple on recruiting boards from coast to coast. Programs like Alabama, Florida State, Auburn, Mississippi State, Florida, Colorado, Texas, Georgia, Texas A&M, Michigan, Ole Miss, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Virginia, Miami, Missouri and several others made their interest official, extending offers and making their presence known in Mobile.
The momentum has translated into a busy spring ahead. McNeil is lining up visits to some of the biggest names in college football, with three official visits already locked in: Texas A&M (June 5-7), Florida (June 11-13), and Alabama (June 19-21). Those dates are circled on the calendar for programs hoping to make a lasting impression on one of the most sought-after linebackers in the 2027 class.
Alabama, in particular, has been a long time coming. The Crimson Tide made their move on January 21, when head coach Kalen DeBoer and inside linebackers coach Chuck Morrell visited Vigor and delivered the offer McNeil had been anticipating. It wasn’t a surprise - the relationship between McNeil and the Tide staff has been building steadily over the past several months - but it was a pivotal moment nonetheless.
McNeil’s stock has skyrocketed for good reason. He’s a rangy, physical linebacker who plays with a natural feel for the position.
Whether it’s diagnosing plays, filling gaps, or dropping into coverage, he brings a complete skill set that fits today’s fast-paced, hybrid defensive schemes. Coaches see a player who can anchor the middle of a defense and grow into a leader at the next level.
What makes his story even more compelling is that this breakout didn’t come out of nowhere. Last summer, during a visit to Vigor to check in on Alabama commit Jabarrius Garror, McNeil was already turning heads. The Wolves’ coaching staff pointed him out as a name to remember, and now that prediction looks spot on.
Now, with the spotlight fully on him, McNeil is embracing the moment. The recruiting process is only heating up, but he’s already showing a mature, measured approach - taking his time, building relationships, and making sure each visit counts.
The offers are impressive, the visits are stacking up, and the buzz is real. Isaac McNeil isn’t just a name to know anymore - he’s one of the hottest prospects in the 2027 cycle, and he’s only getting started.