With a chip on his shoulder, Saluki safety Ryan Neal eager to start NFL career

Southern Illinois safety Ryan Neal watched the NFL Draft last night from Tampa, Florida where he has been training at The Applied Science & Performance Institute for his opportunity to play in the National Football League.

At 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, he has prototype size to play at the next level, but it wasn't until he blazed through the 40-yard dash in 4.44 seconds during his Pro Day at Northwestern this spring that teams starting circling back for a closer look at his game tape.

What scouts saw on the film was an athletic, instinctive and well-coached defensive back who led the team in tackles and even has coverage experience at cornerback. Digging a little deeper, they realized Neal played for three-different coordinators in four years yet his productivity kept increasing.

"I was able to show teams that I could master any scheme and still play at a high level," Neal said. "When they put me on the (chalk) board and asked me something about a coverage we ran at SIU, I was able to display my football knowledge. My coaches at Southern did a great job of preparing me. I credit Coach (Marty) Rodgers, Coach (Kraig) Paulson, Coach (Carl) Franks for preparing me and giving me the upper hand."

NFL teams are notoriously secretive about which college players they covet, but Neal said he has drawn serious interest from three clubs and has been contacted by numerous others. One team flew Neal to its headquarters to meet the coaching staff and another held a private workout.

The three-day draft continues tonight with rounds 2-3 and finishes on Saturday with rounds 4-7. Neal is projected to go in rounds 6-7 or be signed as a priority free agent.

"As long as I get an opportunity, that's all that matters," he said. "Some teams want me to be a safety, some think I can do both or play corner. I'm ready for anything."

Neal is receiving help and drawing inspiration from his older brother, Mike, who played six seasons for the Green Bay Packers from 2010-2015.

"He's been in my corner and my mentor throughout my college career," Neal noted.

For a player who didn't receive an FBS scholarship offer out of high school, Neal has never wavered in his confidence that he could someday play in the NFL, and he's grateful for his experiences at Southern.

"SIU was there for me when I didn't have any other," he said. "It didn't work out to go to a bigger school, but I fell in love with Southern, came here and had a great experience with great people, coaches, mentors and friends. I love each and every one of them."

When asked to predict how he'll feel when the call from an NFL franchise finally comes, Neal was already looking past it to the next step.

"I'm ready for it, but I really can't wait to get to work," he said. "I feel like I'm over the whole phone call thing and ready to get on that field and show what I can do. I have that chip on my shoulder and I'm ready to prove it. I'll celebrate a little, but at the end of the day, get back to work."

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With a chip on his shoulder, Saluki safety Ryan Neal eager to start NFL career

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