Davonte Neal - By The Numbers
Grade: 9th
Age: 15
Catches: 38
Yards: 511
TDs: 6
* 100 time: 10.98
* 200: 22.02
* 400: 52.02
College offers: 2
* - As 8th-grader
PHOTO GALLERY: Davonte’ Neal
By Mitch Stephens
MaxPreps.com
PHOENIX, Ariz. - It’s a hellacious 2.5-mile training ground made up of soft sand, slippery rock and mountain terrain. The hills are steep and rugged. The Arizona heat is often unbearable.
Professional trainer Luke Neal has brought many NFL and college athletes to their knees on this trail of pain in Ahwatukee just outside Phoenix.
“We call it the Thrill Neal Hill,” Luke Neal said. “It’s not for the squeamish.”
So, when Davonte’ Neal told his dad he wanted to play tackle football, Luke gave him a challenge.
“I said if you can complete that course at the end of eight months, you can play,” dad said.
Davonte’ made it in three months.
He was 9-years-old.
Dad had a $110 Pop Warner bill, one he’s never regretted paying.
“He literally told me then, ‘don’t ever bet against me dad,’ " Luke said. “I haven’t and I won’t.”
Such is the long tale and rugged roots of arguably the nation’s top freshman football player.
Guided by a spiritual pops and trained professional, now coached by a living high school legend and gifted with tremendous fast-twitch genes, 15-year-old Davonte’ is setting Arizona gridirons ablaze with superior speed, brimming confidence and a burning desire to be the best.
Through nine games, the 5-foot-11, 175-pound receiver and defensive back at Chavez High School in Laveen has 38 catches, 511 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions.
Impressive numbers to be sure.
But the digits scouts are already salivating over are his national-leading eighth-grade track and field marks in the 100 meters (10.98), 200 (22.02) and 400 (52.02). He’s also long jumped 20 feet, 10¼ inches.
So good are those numbers and Davonte’s grounded nature that Arizona State and Boston College have already offered him full rides.
Did we mention, Davonte’ is only a freshman?
"(Offers to freshmen) is getting somewhat more common, but it's certainly not an every day occurence," CBS College Sports/MaxPreps recruiting expert Tom Lemming said. "If the bloodlines are right and the numbers add up, it happens."
In 37 seasons, first-year Chavez coach Jim Rattay has allowed only two other freshmen on his varsity rosters: current Oakland Raiders tight end Zach Miller and University of Cincinnati starting H-back Marcus Waugh.
But Rattay, whose son is former NFL quarterback Tim Rattay and who has won seven state titles between stints in Ohio and Arizona, said Davonte’ was sort of a no-brainer.
“He’s very gifted and fast for his age obviously,” he said. “But because of his dad, he’s been around pro and college and high school players growing up. He’s like being the son of a doctor. (He’s) going to have a feeling of comfort around this kind of stuff.
“He’s not worried about getting beat or making a mistake. He’s thinking how am I going to beat someone and make a play.”
Still, Davonte’ wasn’t banking on being called up to the varsity, let alone getting college offers.
“I was just excited to play with the big boys and older guys and show what I could do,” he said.
What was the reaction of the other players when he was called up?
“They totally welcomed me,” he said. “They treated me like I’ve been here before. It surprised me a little. I thought they might dump me in the locker or trash can. It hasn’t happened to me yet.”
That’s largely because dad doesn’t allow him to get too full of himself.
Davonte’ looks you right in the eye. No piercing or tattoos are allowed. Either is boasting or lofty expectation.
Luke, who got a tryout with the Rams in the early 90s, doesn’t share his athletic accomplishments or track times with his son.
“I have no idea what he did before,” Davonte’ said.
Said Luke, a former coach at Ricks College (Idaho) and Dorsey High (Los Angeles): “My past has nothing to do with his future. I don’t want to give him any undue pressure trying to fulfill my legacy.”
Instead, dad tries to inject a blue-collar work ethic by using examples of Walter Payton, Michael Jordan and Jerry Rice.
Combined that with his dad’s physical training at The Athlete’s Factory (he’s worked such NFL guys as Broncos receiver Edell Shepherd , Dolphins center Matt Spanos, Colts receiver Rudy Burgess and Jets defensive back E.J. Underwood) and Davonte’ has both his head on straight and muscular legs planted.
“I tell him that talent will get you only so far, that character and how you treat others is far more important.”
It’s helps to have Rattay, an old school coach with a firm but quiet demeanor, as Davonte’s every day mentor.
“He’s probably even a better mentor to me,” Neal said. “He’s like a magnet to the kids. He’s such a positive person and he might be the best coach in the state.”
Rattay helped Chavez to its sixth win (against three defeats) on Friday, a 48-0 triumph over Maryvale (Phoenix), matching the win total for the Champions the two previous seasons combined.
He came over from Phoenix Christian where he won 2A titles in 2003 and 2004. Rattay has other state crowns at Desert Vista (1998), Mesa (1990 and 1992) and two in Ohio including 1976 with Elyria Catholic.
Rattay never had a freshman play for him in Ohio, but that may have been Paul Brown’s influence: “(Brown) said for every rookie you start you lose one game,” Rattay said. “Maybe I thought it was the same with freshmen.”
But not this freshman.
Davonte’ said his goals are very simple: “Do the best I can on the field, play at the next level and finish high school with a 3.5 grade point average.”
When asked what areas he needs to work on, he left nothing unturned: “I catch the ball (well) but my hands always need work. So does my footwork and speed. And the mental aspect.”
He still trains on Thrill Neal Hill, but it’s not so daunting.
“He’s pretty much a beast up that mountain,” Luke Neal said.
And everywhere else.
E-mail Mitch Stephens at mstephens@maxpreps.com.
6 More Dabs on Davonte’
His mother named him Davonte’ with an accent. Because the name is becoming more common Davonte’ has been using “Tady” as a tag. His dad said he might start calling him by his middle names Antonio and/or Marshone.
Davonte’s distant cousin is Frank Neal, a former defensive back with the Green Bay Packers in the early 1980s.
His favorite NFL player is Steve Smith. “I like his footwork. He makes plays after the catch. He turns a 5-yard gain into an 80-yarder.”
Davonte’ has been asked to run with Chandler track standouts Bryce Lamb, Jamil Hines and Markus Wheaton on the 400 and 1,600 relay teams at the Great Western Showcase in New Mexico next spring.
Great read on Davonte’ by
Arizona Republic staffer Richard Obert when two offers first rolled in.
Read here.
