San Marcos, Texas – Former Bobcat standout quarterback Barrick Nealy is returning to San Marcos to serve as an assistant coach at San Marcos Academy and continue his education at Texas State.  

Nealy was named the quarterbacks and wide receivers coach at San Marcos Academy in early March under former Bobcat player Les Davis, who just completed his first season as head coach at the school.  

“Finishing my degree was always part of my plan and my promise to my mother when I decided to leave school and pursue a professional football career,” Nealy said. “So it was never a question about if I was going to finish—it was a question of when.”  

“Considering the fact that my wife, Tiffany, and I have now started our own family, I personally don't know anyone who wouldn't want to serve and reconnect with a community of people who have done so much for me in the past. I owe it to the City of San Marcos to come back and help other young people.”

Nealy, who was Texas State's starting quarterback from 2003-05, is most notably remembered by Bobcat fans leading the Bobcats on their historic march to the NCAA Division I FCS semifinals against Northern Iowa.  

He also was named the Southland Conference Player of the Year and finished fifth among the contenders for 2005 Walter Payton National Offensive Player of the Year award after completing 208 of his 363 passes for 2,875 yards and 21 touchdowns. Nealy also ran the ball 159 times for 1,057 yards to lead the Southland Conference.  

Nealy completed his career as Texas State's all-time career leader in passing yards and total offense. He threw for 7,206 yards and 52 touchdowns, while accumulating 8,933 total yards and scoring 70 touchdowns during his career.  

His career at Texas State began in 2003 after he played his freshman season at the University of Houston, where he started the first four games before sustaining a season-ending knee injury. He joined the Bobcats the next year and threw for 3,129 yards and 21 touchdowns as a sophomore. Nealy played in nine games as a junior and threw for 1,202 yards and 10 touchdowns.    

After his senior season, Nealy played professionally in the Canadian Football League with the Calgary Stampeders before announcing his retirement on June 11, 2011.  

Now, he is looking forward to working with San Marcos Academy's veteran coaching staff which is led by Davis, who played at Texas State from 1977-81.