Northwestern is trying to recruit at a higher level this offseason, and it just offered the top tight end prospect in the 2028 recruiting class.
Tytan McNeal is a four-star recruit, according to both industry standard recruiting websites: 247Sports and Rivals. Both sites also list McNeal as the No. 1 tight end in the class, as well as the No. 1 tight end out of his home state of Washington.
Today, the player himself posted the news of Northwestern's offer to X. Wildcat Report's Louie Vaccher then reported on it soon after.
McNeal is a big receiving threat, standing at 6-foot-5 and weighing 210 lbs. That's right on track to be impressive measurable every step of the way, as he transitions from high school to college and even college to pros if he makes it that far.
Obviously, signing McNeal will not be an easy task for head coach David Braun. Historically, Northwestern's sweep spot has been in the three-star zone. But it has had a little more success with four stars as of late, and renewed investment from the athletic department is helping the program be competitive.
Still, McNeal isn't just any four-star. He's the top talent at his position and from his state, according to multiple sources. Securing his services will be extra difficult as a result.
Also in the mix with offers currently outstanding are Arizona, BYU, Cal, Florida, Miami, Nebraska, Oklahoma and more. It's also safe to expect there to be even more teams vying for his commitment as the recruiting period goes on.
Right now, Rivals gives Nebraska the best odds to land McNeal, with Oklahoma coming in at a close second. It hasn't yet registered Northwestern's offer as official, so the 'Cats' current odds are not posted.
David Braun and new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly are continuing a search that preceded both of their tenures with the university. The 'Cats have had solid blocking tight ends in recent seasons, but they haven't had a true receiving threat at the position.
Hunter Welcing went out and caught some passes this past season, and he deserves his flowers for that. Without him, Northwestern would have legitimately had nobody in the tight end room with real stats. But Welcing still only put up 296 yards.
Adding McNeal would flip the script for NU. He is likely to develop into a real threat as a pass catcher down the field. If Northwestern can ever figure out how to get the quarterback right for more than one season in a row, having a threat like that would be a big help.