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SOUTH BEND – Practice ends and Raeshon McNeil heads for his cell phone. Two states away, another phone beeps and vibrates.
The almost-daily text message McNeil sends is at once seeking advice and also a lifeline for the Notre Dame junior cornerback.
In Pittsburgh, Darrin Walls hears the beep, feels the vibration. For the first time since the two arrived in South Bend together during the summer of 2006, they are apart.
Separation isn’t easy.
“It is kind of important for us,” Walls said. “Because we’re usually together, and we usually do everything together, so it just wouldn’t be the same if I went through a whole month without talking with him.
“It’s just something we wouldn’t do so being there by his side, supporting him, helping him out, it means a lot to us, and it’ll help him in the long run, and it’ll help me, too, just being in contact with him because that is my best friend.”
Walls wouldn’t discuss his decision not to enroll at Notre Dame this semester, but his departure opened the starting slot for McNeil. Walls started 11 games for the Irish last year, with McNeil playing nickel back. McNeil had nine tackles, a sack and three pass breakups.
“We’re definitely different players,” McNeil said. “He’s a really good cover corner, and I’m a little bigger, a little more stout corner than he is. Playing on the left side, which is where a lot of the passes go, I’m definitely going to have to touch up on my covering skills.”
McNeil offers flexibility for Notre Dame. Playing nickel last year, he knows how to play inside and outside. It’ll help keep the Cooleemee, N.C., native on the field.
Yet if McNeil struggles, as he did for a portion of training camp, he knows help is a phone call away.
The daily conversations range from randomness to what went on in practice that day to McNeil continually asking for tips or WWDD: “What Would Darrin Do?”
“I told him to keep hanging in there,” Walls said. “Don’t lose confidence in yourself. They got you out there starting for a reason and prove to them that you belong out there.”
The two were roommates last year and lived together this summer. In practice, they’d often be each other’s joking foil. Off the field, McNeil watched Walls play video games or they’d bowl, go to the movies or parties.
“I would still much rather have him here,” McNeil said.
McNeil will be on the field Saturday. Walls doesn’t know where he’ll be, although he made one thing clear.
He’ll be watching.
“It’s going to be difficult for me knowing that I’m not out there and that I won’t be able to help my team,” said Walls, who indicated he intends to return to Notre Dame. “But I’m also excited for the opportunity he has to show what he has to the world.”
Note: Freshman wide receiver John Goodman (Bishop Dwenger) was held out of practice Tuesday due to “general soreness.” He is expected back at practice today.
mrothstein@jg.net
