[align=center]Mike Neal | Defensive End | Purdue | 6'3" - 294 lbs.[/align]
OVERVIEW
After three years of patiently waiting for his opportunity, Neal showed the coaching staff why they heavily recruited him. One of the top prep defensive ends in the nation, the once 245-pound freshman developed into a a rock-solid defensive tackle who has been one of the bright spots on the team since moving into the lineup two years ago.
Since taking over left defensive tackle duties, Neal registered 11.0 of his 13.0 career quarterback sacks and 21.5 of the 26 tackles for loss he recorded during his Boilermaker career. By far the team's strongest player, he commanded constant double-team coverage on almost every snap.
Regarded by many as the strongest and most dominant defensive lineman to wear a Boilermakers uniform since Jeff Zgonina in 1992, he holds several team weight records, boasting a 510-pound bench press, a 615-pound squat, a 385-pound clean.
According to Purdue head coach Danny Hope, "Michael Neal can be a great player, not only at his position, but in this league," Hope says. "I think he'll be a premier defensive tackle, maybe the best defensive tackle that's played at Purdue since Zgonina (the Big Ten defensive player of the year in 1992 and a 15-year NFL veteran)."
At Merrillville High School, Neal was rated the nation's 29th-best strong-side defensive end and the sixth-best overall prospect in the state of Indiana, according to Rivals.com. Prep Football Report rated him the 56th overall prospect in the Midwest region while College Football News ranked him 33rd.
As a senior, Neal recorded 59 tackles, including 24 for loss and 12 sacks, with 20 pressures, six pass break-ups and one blocked kick, earning All-State honors. He also collected 49 tackles, with four sacks, 14 stops behind the line of scrimmage, three pass deflections and one fumble recovery as junior. In addition to football, he also lettered in basketball.
Neal enrolled at Purdue in 2005, spending his first season competing with the scout team while retaining freshman eligibility. He used that time to develop physically, adding close to 25 pounds to his frame before his first varsity season. Arriving in 2006 fall camp at 270 pounds, he saw limited action in nine games as a reserve defensive tackle, finishing with nine tackles (8 solos), including one for a loss.
In 2007, Neal played an important role in the front line's rotation. In his reserve left defensive tackle position, he notched 22 tackles. He also delivered a pair of sacks to go with 3.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage.
The junior defensive tackle claimed a starting job on the left side in 2008. With his frame now carrying 293 pounds, Neal was too much for isolated blockers to contain. He was credited with 33 tackles (18 solos), and a third of them came in the opposing backfields. He ranked second on the team with 5.5 sacks, the 10th-best figure in the Big Ten Conference. He also placed third on the squad with ten stops for loss.
Neal continued to fill out his frame, which maxed out at 302 pounds during his senior year. He earned All-Big Ten Conference honorable mention and was named Purdue's defensive captain. He registered 35 tackles (20 solos) that included 11.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage.
CAREER NOTES
Neal started 23 of his final 24 games at Purdue and played in a total of 46 games during his career...Recorded 99 tackles (56 solos) with 13.0 sacks for minus 76 yards and 26.0 stops for losses totaling 105 yards...Recovered two fumbles, caused another and deflected a pair of passes...Holds the school position records with a 510-pound bench press, a 615-pound squat, a 385-pound clean...Tied Gary Hrivnak (1970-72) and Landon Johnson (2000-03) for 20th place on the school career-record list with his 26.0 tackles behind the line of scrimmage.
2009 SEASON
Super Sleeper Team selection by The NFL Draft Report and listed as the most underrated defensive tackle in the Midwest by that scouting information service... Received the team's Hammer Award (outstanding hitter) and served as squad co-captain... Started all 12 games at left defensive tackle... Recorded a career-best 35 tackles (20 solos), as he ranked second on the team and tenth in the conference with 5.5 sacks for minus 25 yards... Was second on the squad and 14th in the Big Ten with 11.5 stops for losses of 38 yards... Broke up two passes, recovered two fumbles and caused another... Part of a defense that yielded 173.42 yards rushing and 376.58 yards in total offense per game... Led a front wall that ranked 22nd in the nation in quarterback sacks generated (2.67 pg).
2008 SEASON
Appeared in all 12 games, starting 11 at left defensive tackle, coming off the bench vs. Ohio State... Registered 33 tackles (18 solos), ranking second on the team and 10th in the Big Ten Conference with 5.5 sacks for minus 39 yards... Finished third on the team and 15th in the league with 10.0 stops for losses of 51 yards.
2007 SEASON
Played in all 13 games behind Ryan Baker at left defensive tackle, recording 22 tackles (10 solos) with two sacks for minus 12 yards and 3.5 stops for losses of 14 yards... His first career sack came vs. Toledo and his second was vs. Central Michigan in the Motor City Bowl.
2006 SEASON
Appeared in nine games as reserve defensive tackle, producing nine tackles (8 solos) with a stop for a 2-yard loss and a pass deflection.
2005 SEASON
Red-shirted as a freshman.
CAMPUS AGILITY TESTS
4.89 in the 40-yard dash... 1.70 10-yard dash... 2.84 20-yard dash... 4.55 20-yard shuttle... 7.56 three-cone drill... 33-inch vertical jump... 9'5" broad jump... Bench pressed 225 pounds 31 times... 510-pound bench press... 615-pound squat... 385-pound power clean... 33 1/2-inch arm length... 10 1/4-inch hands.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Merrillville (Ind.) High School, playing football for head coach Jeff Yelton... Rated the nation's 29th-best strong-side defensive end and the sixth-best overall prospect in the state of Indiana, according to Rivals.com... Prep Football Report rated him the 56th overall prospect in the Midwest region while College Football News ranked him 33rd... As a senior, Neal recorded 59 tackles, including 24 for loss and 12 sacks, with 20 pressures, six pass break-ups and one blocked kick, earning All-State honors... Collected 49 tackles, with four sacks, 14 stops behind the line of scrimmage, three pass deflections and one fumble recovery as junior...Also lettered in basketball.
PERSONAL
Health and Fitness major... Father, Michael, played football at Weber State... Born Michael Jamel Neal... Resides in Merrillville, Indiana..