McNeal attended Lufkin High School, where he was a four-sport star in football, track, basketball and baseball.

He was named East Texas Player of the Year as a senior after leading the football team to a 15–1 record and a Class 5A Division II state championship.

McNeal rushed for 159 yards and threw for 223 in the state title game, bringing his team back from a 21–3 deficit despite an ankle injury.

McNeal also played defensive back in critical stages of games, once returning an interception for a touchdown to clinch a playoff victory: it was one of seven INTs he recorded as a senior.

Also an excellent track & field athlete, McNeal was one of the top sprinters in Texas, timed in a 10.36-second 100-meter dash, and he finished third in state in that event.

[1] Earned National Offensive Player of the Week honors after coming off the bench to throw an A&M freshman record 4 touchdowns and lead the Aggies to a 30–26 victory over then No.

This performance earned McNeal the starting job at quarterback the following week against the University of Missouri, but he sprained his ankle and missed most of the rest of that season.

McNeal was named semifinalist for the Davey O'Brien Award and first-team All-Big 12 quarterback by the Dallas Morning News.

After his acclaimed junior campaign, Texas A&M entered the 2005 season with high hopes for both McNeal and the entire Aggie squad.

McNeal returned to action in January 2006 for the postseason East-West Shrine Game in San Antonio, Texas, and led West team to 35–31 win with 9-of-11 passing for 211 yards and two touchdowns (no interceptions).

McNeal's inconsistent play in 2005, questions about his durability and his lack of NFL-style quarterback skills put his chances of being selected in the 2006 NFL draft in jeopardy.

McNeal recorded his first (and only) offensive stat in the NFL against the Indianapolis Colts on Monday Night Football, December 18, when he lined up at quarterback and scrambled for eight yards on third down, giving the Bengals the first down.

[8] On October 2, 2007, McNeal signed with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League and was added to their practice roster.