Cal Neubauer’s decision to commit to Davidson came from a moment of clarity during a summer camp visit. What started as a single trip turned into assurance that this was the right fit for football and for life beyond the field.
“Whenever I went there for a camp this summer, I really got a feel for the kind of place that it is,” Neubauer said. “I enjoyed the culture there, and the coaching staff was really welcoming. I knew that it was a place where I could fit in. It was the best option for me, as far as it was in a location that I really enjoyed and it was a good fit academically. So that’s why I chose [to go] there, and I’m really excited.”
The recruiting grind, Neubauer says, revealed how unpredictable college sports have become and taught him the importance of persistence even when responses are slow or unclear. He mentioned the transfer portal, which has created a “trickle down effect, where you get people who would have been going to bigger schools now going to smaller schools.”
“It’s just hard to figure out where you stand with a lot of coaches,” Neubauer said. “Until the doors are officially closed, people may get negative feelings because maybe a coach didn’t respond to them once. It’s important to keep on pursuing the options that you’re really interested in so that they can know that.”
Neubauer’s football roots run deep from flag football in kindergarten to several seasons of tackle ball. Beyond his wins and losses, Neubauer says the sport shaped his character—discipline, perseverance, and the habit of pushing through setbacks.
“Any sport is hard,” Neubauer said. “There are times when it gets stressful and difficult. It’s taught me that if you want to achieve a goal, then you just have to keep working for it even through the road bumps that are bound to come.”
