As he gets set to sign his first recruiting class as Illinois’ head coach, Bill Cubit has sustained a significant veteran loss on the defensive side of the ball.
Cubit confirmed to the Champaign News-Gazette that T.J. Neal has decided to leave the Illini and finish his player career elsewhere. The linebacker will be a graduate transfer, so he’ll be eligible to play i 2016 if he ends up at another FBS school.
“He’s graduating and he was talking about playing closer to home,” Cubit told the News-Gazette. “That’s what he’s going to do. He’s a good kid and I respect his feelings about what he wants to do. I wish him all the luck.”
There is also this little tidbit:
Just talked to Bill Cubit. He said T.J. Neal is blocked from transferring to any program the #illini play in 2016.
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) January 26, 2016
With that stipulation, Neal would not be permitted to transfer to any Big Ten West school (Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Purdue, Wisconsin); the three conference crossovers (Michigan, Michigan State, Rutgers); and the two FBS schools on the non-conference schedule -- North Carolina and Western Michigan.
One place to keep an eye on as a potential transfer destination? Penn State. Not only is Neal a native of McKeesport, Pa., but Tim Banks, the Illini’s co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach the past four seasons, left in December to become the Nittany Lions’ coordinator. PSU has also seen a pair of linebackers, Troy Reeder and Gary Wooten Jr., transfer out this month.
Regardless of where Neal lands, his new team will get a very productive piece for its defense.
Neal was a two-year starter for the Illini who finished second on the team in tackles (109) this past season. He was named honorable mention All-Big Ten for his play in 2015.