Neal is a 5'10", 178, redshirt Senior cornerback from Akron, OH (I know he went to high school in Scottsdale, but that is what his official bio says). Neal played as a true Freshman at Notre Dame where he was primarily a punt returner before transferring to Arizona. He played every game in 2014 as a receiver catching 27 balls for 214 yards and 2 TDs while also returning 12 punts for 133 yards and another TD. Last year he switched to defense starting in 11 games as a corner. Neal's 63 tackles were 3rd on the team and he was tied for 2nd in pass break-ups with 5. He also had one interception against NAU. Neal only returned 1 punt last year, but did get 26 yards on the 1 attempt.
Neal for the first time in his college career will be playing on the same side of the ball for the same team 2 years in a row. Now he just has to figure out a new defensive scheme. He should start at one of the corners and should be the vocal leader of the defense. I don't think he will be used as a primary punt returner, but he certainly can play there if needed.
19 is the school record for sacks in a season set by Tedy Bruschi in 1993.
