Dec 7, 2024; Arlington, TX, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils quarterback Sam Leavitt (10) and Iowa State Cyclones defensive end Joey Petersen (52) and defensive lineman Domonique Orange (95) and defensive back Marcus Neal (31) in action during the game between the Iowa State Cyclones and the Arizona State Sun Devils at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
AMES — “See ball, hit ball.”
Those four simple words formed Iowa State sophomore safety Marcus Neal’s hard-hitting motto as a fledgling freshman. And those basic instincts still guide the 6-1, 210-pound ball of energy on the football field — but now there’s a broad base of knowledge that undergirds them.
“It’s great because you can actually see things,” said the Kansas City native, who totaled a career-high eight tackles in the Cyclones’ Pop-Tarts Bowl win over Miami last season. “Say a play’s happening and you’re like, ‘Whoa, yeah.’ Since you’ve learned those things, you can make a good play on the ball, or get a better fit other than just being out there trying to play see ball, hit ball.”
Neal’s one of dozens of young Cyclones informally enrolled in what his position coach, Deon Broomfield, calls “football school.” It’s designed to provide players with basic understanding of all the concepts that crop up in the three phases of the game — offense, defense and special teams. It goes beyond practice and position group meetings, and class is almost always in session in the offseason.
“Guys are in this building 24/7,” Broomfield said. “You just try to expose them to as much football (as you can). Guys are in here and, ‘Hey, today we’re gonna learn about offensive formations.’ The next day, (it’s) maybe just motions. And you try to just literally peel back the layers of what you need to do to be successful, from when you get a call, to lining up and identifying the formation, and what’s my alignment? You just really try to slow it all down so kids can have the ability to not really think. It just becomes a habit.”
Neal’s aced those offseason football 101 classes and is poised to be a big contributor in a safeties’ room that features just one returning starter in All-Big 12 performer Jeremiah Cooper. Neal was forced into duty last season because of injuries to Malik Verdon and Drew Surges, among others, and should provide more than just depth in 2025.
“You’ve got to be physically ready, first and foremost, to be able to play at this level,” said Broomfield, who’s also been ISU’s pass game coordinator since 2023. “And he came in as a physical guy. I would say if you looked at his best trait, it’s man, that kid is physically defined. And now it’s to get the mental to match the physical. That’s where we’re probably gonna see his biggest jump over the next four months before we open up (the season) in Ireland.”
Neal’s now more nuanced “see ball, hit ball” approach should at minimum help him carve out a major role on special teams. As his knowledge base grows, so will his reps at safety, where several players, including Surges — who made the win-sealing interception in the Pop-Tarts Bowl, Ta’Shawn James, and Jamison Patton are making strong pushes for significant playing time, as well.
“Everybody’s working and everybody in our room can play,” Neal said. “So everybody’s bringing their A-game every day and coach Broom’s gonna put us in the best position possible to go out there and succeed on the field.”
That’s where football school comes in. There’s no syllabus, per se, but there is structure. And the class schedule is fully flexible, so it’s customizable to meet each player’s needs.
“The first time (on the field) I was like trying to figure it out on my own,” Neal said. “Of course the coaches have helped me, but it’s different when you get on the field. Everything happens so fast. You don’t even see it happen, it just happens, and you’re trying to just make a play. But now as I’m learning more, (I’m) able to slow things down out there — know what’s coming based on what you get. So in that area, it helps a lot. You’re not just out there playing. You can actually see things happening.”
So now Neal’s motto features six words: “See ball, hit ball, know ball.”
“Just keep learning more and more,” he said. “You can’t ever learn too much.”
