ABuccsFan

The full line from the article in the AJC...

McNeill, who measured 6 feet 7 5/8 and weighed 336 pounds at the NFL scouting combine, was once considered a top 10 prospect. But some teams are worried about an old back injury and others are concerned that McNeill did not fully work out at the NFL scouting combine or at Auburn's Pro Day.

But he's a coveted left tackle with 38 starts to his credit and he paved the way for Cadillac Williams (Tampa Bay) and Ronnie Brown (Miami) for most of his career.

"It's one of your impact positions, that left tackle spot," Cleveland Browns general manager Phil Savage said. "In our eyes it's almost a skill position in terms of the abilities it takes to play out there."

McNeill had a back strain in 2003 that caused him to miss three games.
"He had grown so fast and so tall," Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville said. "We had to strengthen his stomach muscles. He hasn't had a problem since."

Tuberville believes that McNeill has addressed the back concerns.
"I think he's overcome that," Tuberville said. "Tampa Bay is very interested, and San Diego. That's two of teams that are really looking hard at him."

McNeill denies reports that he has stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal column.

"We cleared all of that up at the combine," McNeill said. "I don't really know where they came from. That's one of the big things we wanted to clear up."

After McNeill didn't do the weightlifting drill at the combine or on Auburn's Pro Day, some questioned his strength.

"A couple of clubs wanted me to lift," McNeill said. "They contacted me personally, and I did it right there. I had a broken hand that kept me from doing some of the lifts early on this spring."

McNeill said he lifted 225 pounds 26 times.

Tuberville is certain that the massive McNeill will not have problems with speed rushing defensive ends.

"He'll be fine because a lot of the guys he played against are some of the same guys that he played against in the SEC," Tuberville said, "the [Dave] Pollacks. And we had some pretty good defensive ends here the last few years, and he had to go get them in practice every day."

The idea of being selected by Tampa Bay resonates with McNeill.
"Hopefully I'll be able to go down there and be able to block for Cadillac again," McNeill said.