SPORTS&LEISURE THE UNIVERSITY STAR
Thursday, April 27, 2006 - Page 1C By Miguel Peña The University Star
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standout on the field, a diamond in the rough, Barrick Nealy has had the world on his shoulders and a collegiate career for the record books, but this is only the beginning.
Among Bobcat football players, there are hallowed names that have left their mark and have contributed to the Texas State tradition. Nealy is such a name. All in all, he was responsible for 70 touchdowns, 7,206 passing yards and 1,727 yards rushing. In his senior year, Nealy was named the Southland Conference player of the year and established the record for career passing yards at Texas State. But Nealy is not the only senior of mention, as the possibility for a few other players to make a run at the professional ranks exists. Senior defensive tackle Fred Evans will be one of the most likely to be taken in the later rounds of the NFL Draft this weekend, along with wide receiver Markee White, who caught 56 of Nealy’s passes for 786 yards and five touchdowns. Thomas Keresztury, who played offensive tackle, opened a lot of holes for the running backs, while Cory Elolf is a likely candidate for clubs needing a punter. With character and ability, Nealy is the highest-rated player to come out of the Bobcat football program since Ricky Sanders, who earned two Super Bowl rings with the Washington Redskins. The Cleveland Browns, meanwhile, drafted quarterback Spurgeon Wynn in 2000. Wynn was one of five quarterbacks to get drafted before Tom Brady, quarterback for the New England Patriots. Nealy credits coach David Balliff ’s arrival in San Marcos as a turning point regarding community interest toward the Bobcats’ football program. “The whole community has been so supportive. I have had the chance to meet a lot of people that have been there for me,” Nealy said. “Coach Bailiff has introduced me to a lot of people and helped me build relationships with Bobcat fans and alumni.” The Bobcats’ football fortunes hit some bumps in the road during Nealy’s first two seasons on campus. “It got to the point where we, as seniors, were frustrated with our performance. We knew there was no other
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A MAN APART
A.D. Brown & Spencer Millsap/Star feature photo LEAVING HIS MARK: Dallas native Barrick Nealy left his mark on Texas State by becoming one of the best quarterbacks this school has seen. Nealy was the 2005 Southland Conference Player of the Year and had more than 1,700 career rushing yards and more than 7,000 passing yards en route to leading Texas State to its first Southland Conference championship this past season.
team that had the talent we had,” Nealy said. “People were talking about potential but nothing ever happened. But there was something about the senior class; we knew it was our year.” As a senior, Nealy’s contributions on the field marked the pinnacle of a threeyear career that started in 2003 and ended with a 2005 SLC title and a run in the playoffs. The Bobcats’ season ended one game too soon. Northern Iowa’s overtime victory during the semifinal playoff round prevented Texas State from playing for the national championship. “I remember driving around the night before our game with Georgia Southern, and I passed by the stadium, and I saw a big group of people in the parking lot ready to tailgate,” Nealy said. “I stopped my car, walked up and talked
to them for a while. It made me think about what we came from to what we did. It was something I will never forget.” But what is next for the football standout? All signs point to a future in the National Football League and with the draft scheduled for Saturday — the time has come for the future to begin. Since the end of the 2005 season, Nealy has kept busy. He attended the Combine in February and has met with 20 of the 32 NFL teams. Franchises such as the Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, Oakland Raiders and Cincinnati Bangles all have Nealy on their radar screens. Besides his contributions on the field, Nealy has been a highly visible member of the community, volunteering for
such civic programs as Relay for Life and Habitat for Humanity. He has performed well in the classroom and is one semester short of completing his bachelor’s degree in sports science. “Character helps, but at the end of the day, they are looking for a football player,” Nealy said. “I think they overexaggerate character; it never hurts to have talent and carry yourself well, but the NFL coaches want players.” So far, the most interest has come from the Bengals and Texans and at this point it is a crapshoot to see where Nealy will go in the draft. “I had the privilege to work out with Coach (Ken) Zampese, the offensive coordinator, and Jon Kitna. They gave me a chance to see hands-on what they are all about,” Nealy said. “Hopefully, I put
on a good show for those guys; at least it was a good experience.” Several people are hoping that Nealy will be able to stay in Texas, and with an aging Drew Bledsoe in the Dallas Cowboys’ starting lineup, a mobile quarterback with a strong arm could be a nice fit. “Between Dallas and Houston, it is a coin toss. I like Houston,” Nealy said. “I got the feeling they were looking for a guy like me and I think that I would have a lot to learn from a guy like David Carr.” Wherever Nealy winds up, there are sure to be thousands of Bobcat fans who will be keeping their eyes on the NFL for the chance of seeing one of their own suit up for a Sunday or even Monday Night game.