Julian Neal

Draft Projection

Measurements

Athletic Testing

College Statistics

Strengths

• Built like an NFL boundary corner at 6'2", 200 pounds with the wingspan to disrupt passing lanes and jam receivers
• Attacks the run game with bad intentions, consistently setting the edge and delivering punishing hits in the alley
• Shows remarkable short-area burst for his size, able to flip his hips and mirror smaller receivers through their breaks
• Textbook tackler who wraps up and drives through contact, hasn't whiffed on a single tackle attempt all season long
• Displays exceptional spatial awareness in zone coverage, passing off receivers smoothly while keeping eyes on the quarterback
• Physical at the catch point, using his length to contest throws and separate receivers from the football
• Processes route combinations quickly, rarely gets caught flat-footed when receivers stem their routes or use deception
• Shows legitimate ball skills when opportunities arise, tracking the football well and high-pointing contested catches like a receiver

Areas to Improve

• Lacks the elite long speed to recover against burners, vulnerable to getting stacked vertically on go routes
• Has a tendency to peek into the backfield too early, allowing savvy receivers to create separation on double moves
• Footwork gets choppy when transitioning from backpedal to drive, occasionally stumbling through his break on comeback routes
• Can be overly aggressive jumping underneath routes, leaving himself susceptible to vertical stems behind him
• Needs to clean up his press technique, often widening his base prematurely and giving receivers free releases outside