BOCA RATON — The difference between DeAndre McNeal’s first day at fall camp last year and his first day this year are clear.
“I wasn’t here (last year),” McNeal said.
McNeal was at FAU when training camp began last summer, just not on the field. As the former Texas Longhorn waited for his grades to transfer from Fullerton Community College (Calif.), McNeal sat in the football offices with the playbook, studying on schemes and how he’d fit into FAU’s offense.
At least for the first month, McNeal proved to be a good fit. A four-star recruit coming out of high school, McNeal had 18 catches for 298 yards and two touchdowns through the Owls’ first four games, scoring in losses to Navy and Wisconsin.