2016 SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week (vs. Alabama)
2015 SEC Defensive Player of the Week (vs. Florida)
CAREER
Two-year starter on defensive line for the Tigers … Started 24 straight games to end his career … Played in 47 games, starting 24 times … Collected 118 tackles, 17.0 tackles for loss and 12.0 sacks during his career … Added 12 QB hurries, seven pass breakups, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble … Extremely hard worker both on and off the field … Graduated in December of 2016 with a degree in sports administration … Raised by his grandmother … Used self-taught business skills to purchase a barber shop just off the LSU campus while he was pursuing his degree … Is also the President/Owner of a financial investment firm on the Foreign Exchange.
SENIOR SEASON (2016)
Started all 12 games at defensive for the Tigers in Dave Aranda’s 3-4 scheme … Had best season in terms of tackles with 60 … Added 5.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks … Had 1.5 sacks in win over Mississippi State and one each against Jacksonville State and Southern Miss … Had career-high 11 tackles against Alabama and was named SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week for his performance against the Crimson Tide … LSU held Alabama scoreless for three quarters in 10-0 defeat to Alabama … Closed out career with five tackles in LSU’s 29-9 win over Louisville in the Citrus Bowl … LSU sacked Louisville Heisman Trophy quarterback Lamar Jackson eight times and held the Cardinals, who were averaging 45 points per game, without a touchdown for the only time all season … Key component of LSU defense that led the FBS by allowing only 16 touchdowns (1.33 per game) all year … LSU defense ranked No. 2 in the SEC in scoring (15.8 points per game) and rushing defense (117.2 yards per game) and No. 3 in total defense (314.4 yards per game) and pass defense (197.2 yards per game).
JUNIOR SEASON (2015)
Team leader with 8.0 sacks this season which ties for 10th in LSU single-season history … Ranks sixth in the SEC in sacks … Started all 12 games at defensive end … Earned SEC Defensive Player of the Week after he recorded a career-high 3.0 sacks against Florida, tied with many Tigers for the second-most sacks in a single game in LSU history … Set a career high with 10 tackles vs. Florida with 3.5 TFLs, 3.0 sacks, three QB hurries and one PBU … Tallied a sack and one pass breakup against Texas A&M … Posted two PBUs and half a TFL vs. Western Kentucky … Picked up a solo sack vs. South Carolina … Recorded two solo sacks against Eastern Michigan … Led the team with seven tackles and forced a fumble at Syracuse … In his first career start, earned a career-high five tackles at Mississippi State, including a 5-yard unassisted sack in the fourth quarter, and also provided two QB hurries.
SOPHOMORE SEASON (2014)
Moved from defensive end to tackle early in the season … Played in all 13 games with no starts … Listed behind Christian LaCouture on the depth chart … Recorded his first career tackle for loss against Sam Houston State.
FRESHMAN SEASON (2013)
Played in 10 games with no starts … Registered seven tackles … Made an immediate impact in his first game as a Tiger when he established a season high with four tackles and half a sack at defensive end against UAB … Collected three tackles against Kent State.
HIGH SCHOOL
Recorded 68 tackles, eight sacks and one safety in his senior campaign … Rated a four-star recruit by ESPN.com and a three star by Rivals.com, 247sports.com and Scout.com … Ranked as the No. 27 defensive end in the nation by Rivals, No. 29 by 247sports, No. 33 by Scout and No. 39 by ESPN … Named MVP among defensive lineman at the 2012 Top Gun Camp in Williamsburg, Virginia … Participated in the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl where he walked away with Defensive MVP honors … Coached by Randy Raper.
PERSONAL
Mother is Cynthia Neal … Born May 17, 1995 … Graduated in December of 2016 with a degree in sports administration.
CAREER HIGHS
Total tackles: 11 vs. Alabama
Tackles for loss: 3.5 vs. Florida, 2015
Sacks: 2.0 vs. Eastern Michigan, 2015
NEAL’S CAREER DEFENSIVE STATS
| Year |
G-GS
|
UT
|
AT
|
TT
|
TFL
|
Sacks
|
PBU
|
QBH
|
INT
|
FF
|
FR
|
| 2013 |
10-0
|
0
|
7
|
7
|
0.5-2
|
0.5-2
|
0
|
1
|
0-0
|
0
|
0-0
|
| 2014 | 13-0 |
1
|
2 | 3 |
1.5-4
|
0-0
|
0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0 |
0-0
|
| 2015 | 12-12 | 23 | 25 | 48 | 9.5-52 | 8.0-50 | 6 | 8 | 0-0 | 1 | 0-0 |
| 2016 | 12-12 | 11 | 49 | 60 | 5.5-19 | 3.5-16 | 1 | 3 | 0-0 | 0 | 2-0 |
|
Totals
|
47-24
|
35
|
83
|
118
|
17.0-77
|
12.0-68
|
7
|
12
|
0-0
|
1
|
2-0
|