Linebacker Diego Neri becomes first commit in 2021 recruiting class
Diego Neri (Courtesy photo)
Diego Neri didn't want to wait until the end of the NCAA recruiting dead period created by the coronavirus pandemic to make his college decision.
As a result, Central Michigan gained its first verbal commitment in its 2021 recruiting class.
From Cincinnati, Ohio, Neri announced his commitment to the Chippewas on Wednesday night. The 6-foot-2, 225-pound linebacker plays at Northwest High School and is the first from his class to join coach Jim McElwain.
"It was home," Neri told Central Michigan Life. "No school made me at home as much as Central Michigan did when I came up."
During his recruitment, Neri made four trips to the Mount Pleasant campus. The first visit came during last season's homecoming game, a 42-28 victory over New Mexico State.
"It was crazy," Neri said of the atmosphere. "Everybody was involved, and I can tell Mount Pleasant wraps its arms tight around its players."
Neri is currently rated as a three-star recruit by 247Sports. He also had offers from Air Force, Akron, Ball State, Bowling Green, Eastern Michigan, Liberty, Miami (Ohio), Navy, Ohio, Toledo and Western Michigan.
