NFL Hopeful Lorenzo Neal Jr. Looks to Follow in his Fathers Footsteps

Lorenzo Neal is a very familiar name within the sports world. San Diego Chargers fans may know him as one of the last great NFL fullbacks and the primary protector for Hall of Fame running back LaDainian Tomlinson. However, in this instance, I am referring to Lorenzo Neal Jr., the son of Lorenzo Neal Sr.

The 6’3, 315lb Senior defensive tackle out of Purdue University is the latest player to have family ties to the NFL. As the son of a former NFL All-Pro, Neal Jr. is a force in his own right. In 4 complete seasons at Purdue, Neal racked up 75 total tackles, 14 total tackles, and 4 sacks. Despite not being a statistical standout, Neal’s tape speaks for itself. He is a tough interior lineman that has a high motor and a very stout frame. In his final season at Purdue, he was asked to switch to a 3-4 nose after being a tackle for the majority of his career. 

The switch from tackle to nose could be a problem for many guys, but for Lorenzo Neal, he fit the scheme better than expected. In 2019, he suffered a season-ending knee injury but was able to return in 2020 for a shortened season. Coming into this year's draft, many scouts would like to see if he can hold up for an entire season after a tough knee injury and an incomplete season in 2020. The major knock on Neal is that many scouts believed that he played with a high pad level at times and was seen on the ground more than they may have liked. 

Overall, the versatile interior lineman is primed and prepared to have his name called in the draft in April. At the moment, his draft projection is relatively unknown, but his grade will be dictated by how healthy he looks closer to the draft. Teams will be interested to see how fast he will run at his pro day scheduled on March 23. 

As the anchor for a tough defensive line that competes in the Big 10, Neal has the adequate ability to play week to week in the NFL. Similar to current Buccaneer safety, Antoine Winfield Jr, Neal has a familiar name that will give him As we get closer to April, the bloodline of Lorenzo Neal Jr. will surely play a role in how he is viewed by scouts and could potentially give him favor amongst NFL war rooms.

Writer

-By: LeMarkus Bailey