BOYNE CITY — There was a time four years ago when Drew Neer was a wide-eyed freshman thrown into varsity starting action.
He took over at quarterback for his brother, Jack, who went down late in the 2022 season with an injury. A year later, the job was officially Drew’s as a sophomore.
Now a senior with 29 varsity games under his belt, he’s seeing a lot of the same wide eyes he once had all around him and knows they’ll be fine just fine.
“Of course,” Neer said following a victory over Elk Rapids last Friday. “My sophomore year we had to just get going a bit and then we got the train rolling. These young backs, all the sophomores, I think they’re doing great right now. Jamie Joseph is awesome. He’s going to be good.”
Neer knows the feelings they’re all going through, from mastering the playbook to picking up the speed of the game.
He’s also been there to help get them through that.
“He has some expectations of where things are going to be, but I can tell him to calm the offense down and he’s doing a good job,” Boyne City coach Dave Suttle said. “He’s not just calling the plays, he’s instructing on the field. I think that’s good. It’s made his mind click and made him become a leader.”
While there’s some talent around him back – notably senior Owen Hewitt and along the offensive line – this is Neer’s team.
So far in 2025, he’s playing like it too.
The Ramblers are now 2-0 on the young season, with Neer passing for 229 yards and three scores, to go with 57 yards rushing and a touchdown. He hasn’t been asked to do too much yet, but has done everything that’s been needed.
“The best Drew is the one where he’s there every time we need him,” Suttle added. “He did that (Friday).”
So far, it’s been fun for Neer, leading and directing guys like Joseph, who ran hard against the Elks, along with others seeing more action like sophomores Bruyn Hauger and Tanner Kelley and senior Jack VanZee, who caught a touchdown from Neer Friday.
He’s also being asked to use his legs more, which he’s happy about.
“So much fun,” Neer said. “Last year it was a lot of Ryan (Spate), but now I get to free myself up a bit and throw. I get to tell Coach Suttle, ‘Hey, I can do this, that and that.’ It’s been so much fun.”
Game No. 30 for his career will come Friday when the Ramblers travel to Cheboygan to meet the Chiefs and open Legends Division NMFC play.
He could also reach 30 career passing touchdowns, sitting at 28 for his career, to go with four rushing scores. Both numbers will certainly grow this season, though Neer is more focused on where the team ends up, rather than his own stats.
After a state semifinal run a year ago in Division 6, there’s been no limit put on goals in 2025, even with a young team.
“I think our ceiling is Ford Field for sure,” Neer said. “We know what it takes to get there. If we do everything we need to do, I think it’s Ford Field for sure.”
And while the run of six seasons of Neer quarterbacks will end next season, Drew is happy to be teaching the next generation of leader at the position, just like Jack did before him.
It won’t be a Neer, but it looks like it’ll at least be another Drew, as in sophomore Drew Bryant, who saw action late against the Elks.
“It’s been fun,” Neer said on helping the next in line. “Me and Drew Bryant worked all winter and all spring. He’s been great so far. It’s fun to see all those young guys get out there.”
If anyone knows what it’s like to be in that situation, it’s Neer.
Contact or send game stats/info to Sports Editor Drew Kochanny at dkochanny@petoskeynews.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DrewKochanny, and Instagram, @drewkochanny
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Boyne City’s Neer excited to lead young group, leave lasting mark in final season
Reporting by Drew Kochanny, The Petoskey News-Review / The Petoskey News-Review
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