Mike McNeill

Honors & Awards

• Second-Team All-Big 12 (2009, AP)
• Honorable-Mention All-Big 12 (2009, Coaches)
• Nebraska Career Record Holder for Receptions by a Tight End (82)
• Nebraska Season Record Holder for Receptions by a Tight End (32 in 2008)
• Big 12 Commissioner’s Fall Academic Honor Roll (2006, 2010)

Mike McNeill showed his versatility in 2010 with a move from tight end to wide receiver in the Nebraska offense. The 6-4, 235-pound McNeill racked up record-setting receiving numbers at tight end in his first three seasons, but made the shift during spring ball in 2010 to assist the NU receiving corps.
McNeill teamed with fellow senior Niles Paul and junior Brandon Kinnie to give Husker quarterbacks three big targets at receiver. The group combined for 104 catches, with McNeill accounting for 21 receptions and averaging better than 16 yards per catch. He caught his only touchdown pass of the season in NU’s 56-21 win at Washington in September.
Despite lining up at receiver this season, McNeill still qualified for tight end records. After setting the single-season position reception record in 2008, McNeill claimed the career tight end reception record this fall and closed his career with 82 career catches to rank in a tie for ninth in school history. He also became the 19th Husker to record 1,000 career receiving yards.
McNeill earned his degree in marketing in August and played his senior season as a graduate.

2010 Senior
Western Kentucky: Did not record a catch, but blocked well in helping NU record 536 yards of total offense, including 289 yards on the ground. Idaho: Caught his first two passes of the season for 17 yards. Washington: Made his first start of the year and hauled in a 24-yard touchdown pass on NU’s first drive for his only reception of the day...helped Nebraska roll up 533 yards of total offense and 56 points, the Huskers’ most points in a non-conference road game since 1986. South Dakota State: Made the most of his one reception, going a career-high 64 yards to the SDSU 3-yard line to set up NU’s first score. Kansas State: Had two catches, including a 24-yard reception that led to NU’s first touchdown in a 48-13 victory. Texas: Was held without a catch for the first time since the season opener against Western Kentucky. Oklahoma State: Caught a career-high five passes for 61 yards, including a clutch 33-yard reception on NU’s go-ahead scoring drive late in the first half. Missouri: Did not have a catch, as NU racked up 328 rushing yards. Iowa State: Was held without a catch for the second straight game. Kansas: Did not have a catch. Texas A&M: Had one reception for 20 yards. Colorado: Had one catch for 18 yards in NU’s 45-17 victory. Oklahoma: Caught a team-high four passes for 63 yards, including a 36-yarder...went over 1,000 career receiving yards. Washington: McNeill caught three passes for 33 yards in the Holiday Bowl.

 

2009 (Junior)
McNeill finished with 28 catches for 259 yards and his four touchdown catches tied Niles Paul for the team lead. McNeill had at least one catch in 12 of 14 games, including five games with three or more receptions.

In the opener against Florida Atlantic he led the team with four catches for 51 yards. A week later, McNeill caught four balls for 57 yards and had the first two-TD game of his career, with touchdown grabs of 13 and 32 yards. His third touchdown of the season came at Missouri in a key situation. His eight-yard scoring grab gave NU a 20-12 lead early in the fourth quarter.

McNeill's streak of 17 straight games with a catch ended at Baylor, but his production picked up again late in the season. He tied his career high with four catches at Kansas, then had three catches, including a 17-yard touchdown in a 17-3 win over Kansas State in Lincoln. He had just one combined catch against Colorado and Texas, but capped the year with three catches in the Holiday Bowl win over Arizona.   

2008 (Sophomore)
McNeill burst onto the scene as a sophomore, catching a Nebraska tight end record 32 passes for 442 yards and six touchdowns. His receptions total bettered the 31 catches by Johnny Mitchell in 1991, and his six touchdowns were just one shy of Mitchell's season tight end record. McNeill was one of seven Huskers who caught at least 20 passes, helping Nebraska finish 14th nationally in passing offense and 12th in total offense.

McNeill was in the starting lineup for all 12 regular-season games. He averaged 13.8 yards on his 32 catches and had eight games with three or more receptions, including the final four games of the season. He also caught seven passes of 20 yards or more , including a career-long 53-yard touchdown grab against Colorado.

McNeill had just one catch in the first two games, but had two catches for 57 yards and a 32-yard touchdown against New Mexico State. He then added three catches for 66 yards and a touchdown against Virginia Tech. McNeill set a career high with four catches against Baylor, then had four catches for 37 yards and a touchdown against Kansas. He added three catches against K-State and had a career-high 70 yards on three receptions against Colorado. McNeill was also on Nebraska's kickoff return unit.  

2007 (Redshirt Freshman)
McNeill played in eight games as a redshirt freshman in 2007 and had one catch for 25 yards against Nevada. He had a nine-yard kickoff return vs. Texas.  

2006 (Redshirt)
McNeill redshirted in his first season in Lincoln.

Before Nebraska (Kirkwood HS)
McNeill was one of two signees from the state of Missouri in 2006. Playing for former Husker Larry Frost at Kirkwood, McNeill earned first-team Class 6A all-state honors in both his junior and senior seasons. McNeill caught 20 passes for 345 yards and five touchdowns as a sophomore, had 44 catches for 806 yards and six touchdowns as a junior and caught 33 passes for 665 yards and four touchdowns in 2005.

He was ranked among the top 40 prospects at tight end nationally and among the top dozen players in the state of Missouri. McNeill chose Nebraska over Colorado, Wisconsin, Missouri, Texas Tech, Kansas, Indiana and Northwestern.   

Personal
Mike is the son of Allen and Sally McNeill, and was born on March 7, 1988. He is majoring in business administration and was named to the 2006 Big 12 Commissioner's Fall Academic Honor Roll. McNeill has been a volunteer with Nebraska's area hospital visits and School is Cool Week.

McNeill's Career Statistics  

Year	G/S	No.	Yds.	Y/R	Y/G	Long	TDs
2007	8/0	1	25	25.0	3.1	25 vs. Nevada	0
2008	13/12	32	442	13.8	34.0	53 vs. Colorado	6
2009	14/14	28	259	9.2	18.5	32 vs. Arkansas State	4
2010	14/4	21	346	16.5	24.1	64 vs. South Dakota State	1
Totals	49/30	82	1,072	13.2	21.6	64 vs. South Dakota State	11

Single-Game Highs
Receptions - 5, at Oklahoma State, 2010
Receiving Yards -70 vs. Colorado, 2008
Long Reception -53 yards vs. Colorado, 2008
Touchdowns - 2, vs. Arkansas State, 2009