Ryan Neal doesn’t have to look far when seeking advice about the NFL Draft process. He’s next in line of recent Southern Illinois players to play professional football. And his older brother Mike, a former Purdue standout, was a second-round draft pick and played outside linebacker for Green Bay from 2010-2015. He’s had a solid support system since flying onto NFL scouts’ radar after the safety ran a 4.44 40-yard dash with a 37.5-inch vertical at his Pro Day.
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Neal has risen to NFLDraftScout’s14th best free safety and a projected seventh round pick or an undrafted free agent. At 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, scouts love his combination of size and speed. Neal has had a private workout with one team, visited another and has received plenty of phone calls in the last week as the draft begins Thursday and ends Saturday.
BIG hit by Ryan Neal to sniff out the reverse. pic.twitter.com/uWi147QeUa
— Saluki Football (@SIU_Football) October 14, 2017
“I’ve enjoyed the process like no tomorrow,” Neal told HERO Sports. “That’s one thing that has resonated with me, is that I’ve loved every single step up to this point. Just working hard and continuing to work with people I need to work with on getting me ready for this life-changing moment. Really, I’m just grateful for whatever happens. Whether I’m drafted or not, I don’t care. I just want an opportunity.”
An opportunity is exactly what former SIU linebacker Chase Allen got last year. Allen signed with Miami as an undrafted free agent. He went on to make the roster and play in all 16 games with 40 total tackles. MyCole Pruitt went the draft route and the SIU tight end was selected by Minnesota in the fifth round in 2015.
“It’s definitely a sense of pride,” Neal said. “It’s not just me doing it, it’s everyone doing it. Chase and MyCole, those are guys I played with. I know how it feels to see one of your brothers make it, especially out of SIU. It’s a great feeling for everybody. It motivates everybody. I’m happy for the coaches and teammates I’ve had help me get to this point. I’m doing this for them. When one of us makes it, we all make it.”
It’s now Neal’s turn to see where his path takes him. The 2017 Missouri Valley Football Conference honorable mention, who led the Salukis in total tackles with 84, said not even two days after his Pro Day was when his phone started ringing. By his side has been his brother, who Neal will be with this weekend when he hopes to get another phone call on Day 3 of the draft.
“He’s been my mentor throughout this whole thing,” Neal said. “Ever since I was in college really and throughout this process. He’s keeping me level-headed, letting me know what’s to come and how to handle it. He’s been in my corner the whole way and I appreciate him for that.”
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