As a three-star prospect, Julian Neal started his collegiate career in the Mountain West at Fresno State. After honing his skills there, Neal found a place as a starting cornerback in the SEC.
And following an impressive tenure at Arkansas, Neal was considered as a mid-round talent going into the NFL Draft. He has some impressive tape, but he also has some limitations as a boundary corner.
New Customer Offers at BetMGM
Bonus Bets Expire in 7 Days. One New Customer Offer Only. Add’l Terms
Where Did Julian Neal Go In The NFL Draft?
Neal went to the Seattle Seahawks with the 99th overall pick, in the third round, of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Julian Neal’s 40 Time & NFL Combine Results
Neal ran the 40-yard dash in 4.49 seconds, which ranked 15th out of 20 cornerbacks who participated in that drill at the NFL Combine.
He also recorded a broad jump of 11 feet, 2 inches, which was first among cornerbacks and tied for third among all players, and a vertical jump of 40 inches, which was sixth at his position group. His three-cone drill time of 7.13 seconds and his 20-yard shuttle time of 4.2 seconds were third among CBs. He also bench pressed 16 reps, which was the third-most among corners.
Neal was measured at 6 feet, 2 inches and 203 pounds at the NFL Combine.
Julian Neal Stats & Highlights
Before Neal shined at Arkansas, he developed at Fresno State.
He redshirted in 2021, appearing in four games, and he played in three games in 2022. In 2023, he saw a bit more time on the field, playing 11 games and making nine tackles.
He began to show further improvement in 2024. He played in 12 games, starting four, and recorded 35 tackles, five tackles for loss, a sack, two interceptions, and six pass breakups.
Neal then transferred to Arkansas and kept improving, despite the team’s struggles. He racked up 55 tackles, two TFLs, 10 pass breakups, two interceptions, and 12 total passes defended.
Where Is Julian Neal From?
Neal is from San Francisco, California. He was a three-star prospect out of Mission High School.
How Old Is Julian Neal?
Neal is 23 years old.
Julian Neal NFL Draft Profile & Comparison
My NFL comparison for Julian Neal is former Steelers and Browns cornerback Joe Haden. This isn’t to say he’ll be as successful. But Haden was a physical corner who didn’t necessarily need outstanding speed to play the position, and that reminds me of Neal.
Neal’s physicality is his most remarkable trait as a corner. He’s pretty strong going up against other wide receivers when pressing. He has a solid punch at the line of scrimmage. He’s also not afraid to step up and make tackles, as he was among the best tackling CBs in the FBS last season.
According to Pro Football Focus, Neal ranked 34th among corners (who played at least 490 snaps) last season for overall defense and was 15th for tackling and 17th for run defense. Neal allowed 27 receptions for 346 yards on 48 targets in 2025. He gave up three touchdowns with two interceptions.
Neal is fluid with his hips and doesn’t seem to panic in coverage. But he doesn’t have great speed, which might be exposed in the NFL.
Still, Neal could develop into a solid corner.
