FAYETTEVILLE -- Jackson McNeal speaks with a steady confidence when asked about the Fayetteville offensive line. McNeal, a senior offensive tackle, knows just how far along the unit has come since last season. He also is fully aware of how much further the group can go.
Jackson McNeal
School: Fayetteville
Class: Senior
Position: Offensive Tackle
Height: 6-2
Weight: 260
Notable: Two year starter. … Graded out at 89 percent in last week’s 24-10 win at Muskogee, Okla. … Team captain.
"We're happy, but we're also not happy with where we're at yet," McNeal said. "There is still so much to be done and so much we can do better.
"We gave up five sacks to North Little Rock and we can even run the ball better. So we know there's always room to even be that much better."
Fayetteville's offensive line went through wholesale changes last year. Bryant Davis was in his first season and offensive line coach and McNeal was part of a unit that had no previous starting experience. But in year two with Davis coaching the position, the Bulldogs' offensive line has gone from a sore spot to a significant strength on the team.
And it starts with their team captain, McNeal.
"He's the captain of our offense. Jackson is as valuable to our offense as Damani Carter is to our defense," Fayetteville coach Daryl Patton said. "He's just a great leader and he comes to work every day.
"If there's a 4th and 1 play, I'm not saying we're going to run behind Jackson every time, but we know we can count on him every time."
McNeal, at 6-foot-2, 260 pounds, now patrols the right tackles position for Fayetteville with full confidence in not only himself but also those around him. And the Purple'Dogs have paid big benefits this season from his progress in the trenches, averaging 350.7 total yards and 189 rushing yards per game.
"He's always been a good physical player, and the mental aspect of the game has improved quite a bit," Davis said. "He asks really good questions about technique. He watches film and looks at the technique of the defenders he's going to go up against. So he's more cerebral about the game, and still has the physical aspect."
McNeal is more than willing to fill the captain, leadership role at Fayetteville this season. But more important to the senior lineman is team success. And no matter who gets the credit, or who takes charge, McNeal wants to do his part to help make sure the Purple'Dogs come out on top.
"If it's me, if it's the next guy, I don't really care," McNeal said. "I just want to be a team that never gets down and has a guy picking us up.
"Last year there were times when nobody was picking us up. The (Springdale) Har-Ber game was the start of a downward trend for us and there was nobody to pick us up. But this year it's different, and it's not just me. We've got seniors who will pick us up and make us get through with the torch."
Sports on 09/25/2014