Football or pro baseball? USC signee D.J. Neal details his plans

South Carolina’s recruiting class rode through a wave of defections to check in at No. 19 nationally.

The Gamecocks have to get past one more roadblock to stay there.

Wide receiver Dexter “D.J.” Neal is reporting to campus on Wednesday planning to be in Columbia for the entire summer. Plans can change, though.

Neal, despite moving in on Wednesday, may receive a call on June 8-10 to change his mind. The Major League Baseball draft is being held then, and Neal could be selected.

“Top three rounds, if my name isn’t there, then I’m going to go ahead and be in school,” Neal said. “I’m just waiting.”

Neal has worked out with scouts from Arizona, the Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston, the Chicago Cubs, Texas and Baltimore with Atlanta on the schedule. A first-team All-American outfielder by PerfectGame, Neal is a prospect with great power potential.

He’s also a four-star wide receiver ranked 31^st at his position nationwide. Committed since May 2013, Neal has long planned to be at USC, but the draft will determine if he’s there for a week or two or for the next four to five years.

“They like my swing and my speed I have in the outfield,” Neal said. “I just got to play it out and wait and see what the draft brings me.”

Neal has talked with Steve Spurrier and Chad Holbrook about playing both sports at USC, and Holbrook has told him he’ll have a chance to make the team. It’s nothing new for Holbrook – Shon Carson, Ahmad Christian and Kwinton Smith were each USC football players who were MLB draftees and at least thought about playing college baseball – and if Neal reports, he’ll be given a chance.

It’s tricky working out the particulars, since football practice and fall baseball practice coincide. There are different weight-training regimens and different schedules.

But Neal wants to try both.

“Baseball is a passion of mine and I’ve actually already been in coach Holbrook’s office and the locker room,” he said. “He let me know that outfield spots are open and I could come in and try for the position.”

Neal has set a high number for himself and let the scouts know. He isn’t listed as a Top-100 prospect by Baseball America but that could change as the draft approaches.

Neal arrives on campus Wednesday but may not be making his dorm room a permanent home.

“The scouts know my calendar and what I need to hear,” Neal said. “I’m planning to be in school but we’ll see what the draft does.”