CHS’s star quarterback, Eli MacNeal, announced his commitment to Cornell University this summer. He reflected on his journey through the recruiting process, including challenges and surprises. Both his teammates and his coach expressed their excitement for MacNeal.
Chase Harris is a senior on varsity football. Having played on the same team as MacNeal throughout their high school experience, the players have created a special bond.
“It’s really cool to see, especially [with] all the hard work that he has put into it,” Harris said. ”…especially going to a great school like Cornell.”
MacNeal believes that he made the right decision to attend Cornell. From the coaches to the campus, MacNeal establishes the connection he feels to the school already. Having known the coaches for years, MacNeal has created a stable relationship with the football environment at the school.
“I had a really good relationship with the coaches,” MacNeal said. “I’ve known them for a while, and they recruited me pretty hard. When I went up and visited there, I really liked it.”
CHS varsity football coach and father of Eli MacNeal, Thadd MacNeal, feels that it is imperative to keep fatherhood and coaching separate during the recruiting process. Although, by knowing his son’s personal goals and skills through his coaching experience, he has more knowledge about the details of recruiting.
“I just really treat [the process] like [I do with] the other players,” Thadd MacNeal said. “But because he’s my son, I know him very well. So, I think I had more insight into schools that he’d be interested in, and schools that were interested in him as well as his skill set. But really try to keep it pretty professional as far as measurements and production.”
As a close teammate of MacNeal’s, Harris appreciates the hard work MacNeal has put into his football career. Last season, after he went through a shoulder injury, MacNeal was out for the season in his junior year and wasn’t able to practice normally with the rest of the team before games.
“He wasn’t really able to throw the ball during practice and practice as much as everyone else was,” Harris said. But he still went out every game with a good attitude.
Recovering from a shoulder injury in his junior year and not getting as much playing time was a challenge for MacNeal. Along with this, Julian Sayin’s performance from his 2021 sophomore year to his 2023 senior year restricted MacNeal to just two years as the starting quarterback. However, despite these obstacles, he pushes through and continues to be a team player.
“I´m just trying to be the best player I can,” MacNeal said. ¨It’s always what I’m striving for, and not letting my team down, as well. I know they count on me.¨
The team offers optional stairs workouts during the off-season, and only a fraction of the players show up, according to Harris. Presenting his determination to the team, MacNeal has never missed a workout. Harris believes that because of this determination, MacNeal is an inspiration to the whole team.
“His dedication to football and to the program makes him someone to look up to,” Harris said. “Everyone on the team knows that he has their back.”
Given all of the hard work his son has put into his football career, Thadd MacNeal recognizes his determination and passion for his sport. Pushing through challenges during the recruiting process and his high school experience, Eli MacNeal is achieving his dream of playing football at the collegiate level.
“There’s so many good players out there and it becomes a numbers game,” Thadd MacNeal said. “…you have to be able to take some rejection and frustration. But God has a plan where he was supposed to be, and it seems like it’s working out.”
