Clemson lands 2011 QB in Chester's Tony McNeal

The Tigers picked up the commitment of one of the best underclass quarterbacks in South Carolina in Tony McNeal, meaning that they already have six commitments in the Class of 2011.

McNeal committed to the Tigers on Monday during an unofficial visit, according to our sister paper, the State of Columbia. He is ranked as the No.10 overall junior in the state by The Observer.

“He can make every throw,” Chester coach Maurice Flowers told the State. “We're a spread team in the shotgun. He can make the skinny post, the deep comeback, and his mechanics under center are good. He's great at decision making. He cut his interceptions in half. And he's playing in a system that's more of a college type system. He won't be wowed by what's going on.”

McNeal, who is 6-foot-1 and 175 pounds, passed for 1,700 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2009 despite suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament that he will have surgery for next week. As a sophomore, McNeal passed for 3,533 yards and 37 touchdowns.

The Tigers offered in December, despite the knee injury.

Flowers said McNeal is planning to graduate next December so he can enroll at Clemson in January 2011.

--Stan Olson