During a recent practice at the University of Toledo’s Carter Field complex, junior safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren patrolled the secondary like a gazelle, with graceful yet hurried strides.
When he retreated to the sidelines, McNeil-Warren was mostly emotionless. He stood, hands on hips breathing heavily, with his eyes lasered in on senior safety Maxen Hook, the unquestioned leader of the defense.
This is the player Mid-American Conference teams got to know last season. He was named a midseason All-American and ended the year as one of the most disruptive players — 69 tackles, four tackles for loss, two interceptions, three pass breakups, and four forced fumbles — on a defense that ranked in the top 30 overall and 16th against the pass.