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Former Syracuse football General Manager Nate McNeal was named Illinois football’s executive director of player evaluations and acquisitions, the program announced Wednesday. It marks McNeal’s third stint with the Fighting Illini, previously serving as their director of player personnel (2022-23), director of recruiting (2021) and director of high school relations (2016-18).
Between his Illinois stints, McNeal was Temple’s director of player personnel from 2019-20, overlapping with Fran Brown when he served as its co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach in 2019. Two months after Brown was hired as SU’s head coach, McNeal was named the program’s first general manager.
He primarily led the Orange’s personnel staff, helping them land 247Sports’ No. 24 ranked transfer portal class in 2024 and sign 35 class of 2025 recruits. In McNeal’s lone season with the program, Syracuse went 10-3 and won the Holiday Bowl. Now, he re-joins Illinois, working for General Manager Patrick Embleton.
Under McNeal, SU had a staff of around 10 people, highlighted by Director of Scouting Aaron Mannicci and Quality Control/Recruiting Staff member Tommy Caporale. Mike McAllister of 247Sports reported Syracuse is expected to look at Caporale for its now-vacant GM position.
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