Hermiston's Tre Neal sacks Coeur d'Alene sophomore quarterback Colson Yankoff during a game at Kennison Stadium. Meal was selected as CRC Defensive Player of the Year.

Before his junior season, Tre Neal was contemplating a transfer.

The 6-foot-3 defensive lineman, then listed at 215 pounds, decided that if he wanted a better shot at continuing his football career, a better education, and “a better challenge,” as he put it, then he would have to go to a bigger school.

He transferred to Hermiston, where he quickly gained 15 pounds of muscle, was named the Columbia River Conference Defensive Player of the Year, and after a senior season — now weighing 250 pounds — that saw him repeat as CRC DPOY and a first-team all-state selection, Neal has committed to play football at Eastern Washington in Cheney, Washington.

“For Tre it was the best move he ever made,” former Ione football and basketball coach, current Hermiston assistant coach and longtime mentor of Neal Dennis Stefani said. “He blossomed big time. There really weren’t any weight programs at ione … He was a big kid already but it helped him a ton and helped him flourish and helped his speed and everything.”

“I honestly … when I first started playing football I didn’t expect to make it this far,” Neal said. “I was playing to play. I enjoyed it, and I still do. It was a fun trip.”

Neal joins an Eastern program that at 6-5 (5-3 Big Sky) had a down year when compared to recent seasons. The previous home of Oregon quarterback Vernon Adams, Jr., the Eagles are coming off their worst season since 2011-12. In their previous three seasons, the Eagles averaged just more than 11 wins and made the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoffs all three seasons. In 2011-12, Eastern went 13-2 and won the FCS championship.

“He’s definitely worked hard to get where he’s at,” Stefani said. “Now you just need to get that work ethic going in your bookwork too.”

Neal said he’s been talking to the Eastern coaching staff since the end of last school year and drove through the campus one time on their way to visit family in Spokane and liked it. In late October, Neal took an unofficial visit to watch the Eagles host Weber State, a game the home team won 14-13.

Finally, this past weekend, Neal took his official visit to Cheney and committed there.

“I just felt like it was the best fit, honestly,” he said. “I love the program, the coaching staff, the theory behind it and they have a really good academic plan.

“(And) just how tight-knit and close … it’s a really family atmosphere with the coaching staff and players.”

In his two seasons at Hermiston, Neal was a defensive force. He led the Bulldogs in tackles for loss (33.5), sacks (19.5), total tackles (161) and quarterback hurries (35). He also forced five fumbles, recovered three of them and returned one for a touchdown and knocked down three passes at the line of scrimmage.

Neal said he’s “all for” remaining at Eastern for four or maybe five years and that be will likely play defensive end, though he could be moved inside to tackle.

Neal is currently injured on the boys basketball team with an injury sustained in Hermiston’s 81-71 loss Tuesday night at Sunnyside (WA). Neal slammed his hand against the backboard and broke his index finger near the first knuckle. He had a follow-up Wednesday to determine if surgery would be needed. It is likely he could miss the rest of the basketball season but should be healthy enough to start practices with Eastern in August.