Alabama teammates promote LT Evan Neal as Top-5 NFL Draft pick

Alabama junior left tackle Evan Neal has been heralded as a potential top-five NFL Draft pick since as early as his freshman year, when he was starting at left guard for the Crimson Tide. Now, protecting Bryce Young’s blindside at left tackle, Neal’s teammates agree that Neal is a special talent.

“I mean he’s what, 6’8, 340, incredible feet, strong as an ox, I mean there’s really not much Evan can’t do,” Alabama right tackle Chris Owens said. “I think where he’s grown over the years is his intelligence. Like you can see his progression from freshman year where he was a left guard, then last year he was at right tackle, now he’s at left tackle.”

He continued.

“He’s had experience on both sides of the field at multiple positions and he’s starting to take that second and third level learning, so he can progress his game to not only help himself now but help himself in the future,” Owens said. “So I think, of course Evan’s going to be a top-five pick and he’s a good person too so it just adds on to his character.”

Alabama linebacker Christian Harris, heralded as a potential draft pick in his own right, knows Neal’s talent better than most, going up against the monster left tackle everyday in practice.

“Evan Neal as we all know, is one of the best tackles in the country,” he said. “So it’s definitely a challenge every day but it only makes both of us better so I love it.”

Coming out of high school as a five-star prospect and the top offensive tackle in the country out of IMG Academy, Evan Neal has lived up to expectations at Alabama since arriving on campus.

As a freshman, Neal played multiple positions along the line, before settling in at left guard. He was named to the Freshman All-SEC squad and was selected as a Freshman All-American.

As a sophomore, Neal moved to right tackle and helped anchor the right side of the Alabama offensive line that blocked for the top-ranked scoring offense, second-ranked passing offense and second-ranked total offense in the Power Five. He was credited with just 1.5 sacks allowed by the Alabama coaches while surrendering just four quarterback hurries and three pressures, in 810 snaps. So far through his junior season, in his third position in as many years, Neal has yet to allow a sack in five games.

With the 2021 season expected to be Neal’s last before declaring for the NFL, the left tackle will look to help the Crimson Tide to back-to-back national championships. In Mel Kiper’s most recent NFL Draft big board, Neal ranked as the No. 4 prospect behind Oregon defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux, Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton and LSU cornerback Derek Stingley Jr.