Warren's Donovan McNeal is News-Sun Football Player of Year

Warren’s Donovan McNeal knows he often gets overlooked.

Maybe the 5-foot-9, 195-pounder’s measurables are the reason. Maybe it’s his unassuming personality.

“I’m used to being underestimated,” McNeal said. “It happens a lot.”

But that’s a mistake, as McNeal showed over and over again this season. The senior linebacker/running back was a two-way force for the Blue Devils (9-3), leading them to the Class 8A quarterfinals.

McNeal, the 2023 News-Sun Football Player of the Year, had 92 tackles, nine tackles for loss, three sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries, and he rushed for 1,189 yards and 25 TDs on 131 carries.

“His first love is running back, and that’s his natural position,” Warren coach Bryan McNulty said. “But we had Charley Thompson there last year, and people see how good Aaron Stewart is.

“But Donnie always came through in the big spots — and not just in short yardage.”

McNulty’s confidence in McNeal was illustrated during the Blue Devils’ come-from-behind road win against Lake Zurich, their only competitive North Suburban Conference game of the season.

Down 17-14 early in the fourth quarter, Warren faced fourth-and-6 from its 38-yard line. The coaching staff’s initial thought was to try to draw the Bears offsides with a hard count, making a first down easier to achieve. But McNeal happened to catch McNulty’s eye on the sideline during a timeout and had a simple message.

“I told him to toss it to me and I’d take care of if,” McNeal said. “I felt like he had no other option but to trust me.”

McNeal’s 62-yard touchdown run put the Blue Devils on top and gave him 155 rushing yards. He was no less engaged on defense, helping stymie Lake Zurich’s powerful running game.

This was actually McNeal’s first season as a middle linebacker. He started on the outside in 2022, and that was his introduction to the position.

McNeal, the conference player of the year, adapted quickly to the move inside. But playing middle linebacker did present new challenges, each of which he passed with flying colors.

“In the middle, you’re using your smarts much more, and there’s more responsibility,” he said. “I took what I learned last year about being gap-smart and using athleticism and expanded on it. I had to lead the group.”

Sheer physical strength is one reason that McNeal, who has an offer from Valparaiso and interest from Northern Illinois and Eastern Illinois, was prepared to fulfill two roles for the Blue Devils.

McNulty calls him “pound for pound the strongest player I’ve ever coached,” and the numbers back that up. McNeal can squat 550 pounds, dead-lift 600 pounds and bench-press almost 300 pounds.

McNeal’s work in the weight room also strengthened his standing in the program.

“I wanted everyone in there to look at me and say that they want to be just as strong,” he said. “At running back, I could push through bigger defenders with my lower legs. At linebacker, you can meet bigger linemen in the hole and stand them up and get off their blocks easier.”

Being there for his teammates means a lot to McNeal. Senior running back Jayvon Scott and McNeal are longtime friends, so Scott has a good feel for how McNeal ticks.

“He’s an introverted type of person and has always stayed to himself,” Scott said. “He doesn’t like being the center of attention. But he’s really competitive and gets a little more vocal on the field. If he doesn’t play well, it really eats at him.”

McNeal’s father, Charles, who helped coach him in youth leagues, understands people could misjudge him.

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“He’s always been very shy, but football has always been his comfort zone, a safe space where he clicks on all cylinders,” Charles McNeal said. “By looks alone, he might be one of the last kids picked. Until you see him play.”

Steve Reaven is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.