Evan Neal says Alabama teammate was toughest to block in SEC

Alabama left tackle Evan Neal has faced many of the best defensive linemen and linebackers in the country over the past three years, playing both guard and tackle for the Crimson Tide. However, the NFL Draft prospect says no one he faced on Saturday compared to what he saw in practice.

During an appearance on the Rich Eisen Show, Evan Neal revealed that Will Anderson was the toughest player he had to block during his time at Alabama, but then spread the love with some of the players he saw across the SEC.

“In practice it was definitely going up against Will Anderson every day,” said Neal. “He definitely made it tough, but as I say, that’s iron sharpening iron. That’s why you go to Alabama, to go against guys like that and get better.

“The Georgia defensive front was really good, like Travon Walker, Nolan Smith, Jordan Davis, all of those guys. Definitely real good talents for sure.”

While Evan Neal is considered a top 10 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Will Anderson is already an early favorite to land in the same range in the 2023 NFL Draft. Over his first two seasons, the former five-star linebacker has emerged as one of the most dominant players in the country entering the 2022 season.

Meanwhile, Walker and Davis both project as first round picks in this year’s draft as well.

Evan Neal on Nick Saban interaction

As Evan Neal prepares for the NFL Draft now, the former five-star recruit remembers the special moment Nick Saban had visiting his family in Okeechobee, Florida.

“Yeah, he actually went to my dad’s store,” said Neal. “It was actually pretty cool.”

When asked by Eisen what kind of store his father owns, Neal broke down the family business.

“It’s a small little neighborhood convenience store where I’m from, we like sell different beverages and snacks and stuff. And he also owns small little units behind the store that he rents out. He probably rents out like six or seven units so a small little operation.”

To wrap up the topic, Eisen joked with Neal that his father can now close the store since Neal is in line for a big payday from an NFL team. That is not the plan.

“Oh no, we’re not going to close it,” said Neal. “We’re going to take it to the next level. My dad has been in that store his entire life and I just want him to have more time to spend with his family. So just get it to the point where it can run itself and he doesn’t have to be there all the time.”