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SAN DIEGO – Shawnbrey McNeal stood on the sidewalk Thursday, helmet in hand, sweat working its way down his thin sideburns.

It’s good to be in San Diego, he said. It reminds him of Miami.

“The humidity isn’t as bad, but other than that, I love it,” McNeal said. “I love coming out into the sun and no cold weather.” 

That’s where his collegiate career started in 2007, catching rays and toting the football near South Beach.

He strolled into the same stadium that Edgerrin James, Clinton Portis, Willis McGahee and Frank Gore got their start and rushed for a 39-yard touchdown in his first season. He also saw the field as a kickoff returner and averaged 4.5 yards a carry.

But McNeal didn’t stay in the Sunshine State for long.

He transferred to Southern Methodist University as a junior, partly to be closer to his diabetic mother Mattie in his hometown, Dallas. The NCAA granted him a hardship waiver so he didn’t have to sit out a season.

Mattie has raised him as a single mother since his eighth birthday and McNeal honors her by wearing her name tattooed on his right arm.

“She’s kind of been my strength. She gives me the will power to do what I do,” he said.

Just 18 credits from a sociology degree, several members of McNeal’s family pushed him to stay in school. However, following a strong performance against
heavily-favored Nevada when he chalked up 116 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns in the Hawaii Bowl, he decided that would be his last game as a college player.

He wanted to help take care of his mother, who’s had seven surgeries, and chase his dream of becoming an NFL running back.

While the cameras and microphones likely will shift to another rookie running back once first-round draft choice Ryan Mathews joins the team next week for Mini Camp, McNeal believes he’s the perfect understudy to Darren Sproles.

At 5-foot-9, 190 pounds, he isn’t a carbon copy of Sproles, one of the league’s most explosive backs, but he’s close enough in stature and style to pattern himself after No. 43.

McNeal rushed for a long of 19 yards in seven games last season and averaged 5.0 yards a carry.

“It gives me hope and a sense of urgency to get better because he’s kind of the same size as me, the same body weight,” McNeal said. “If he can have a productive career and have an impact on an organization like the Chargers, I know there’s hope for me.”

BOLTS: When the first-team offense went to three wide receivers and a tight end Thursday, the group included Buster Davis, Gary Banks, Jeremy Williams and Richie Brockel. Jacob Hester and Mike Tolbert saw time at fullback … Richard Goodman made the catch of the day near the left sideline, tipping the pass to himself with one hand before securing it, though he may have stepped out of bounds … The Chargers spent 40 plays of team drills working in the red zone Thursday … Davis twice split defenders through a seam up the middle to catch a pass from Philip Rivers … Kevin Ellison and Brandon Lang each had interceptions. Lang snatched a checkdown pass from Rivers a foot from the ground with his arms extended … Sproles and Davis took turns fielding punts during special teams work.