Louisville DB Devin Neal leaves program, expected to enter transfer portal

Louisville defensive back Devin Neal has left the Cardinals’ program, sources tell On3. He is expected to enter the NCAA transfer portal.

Neal is in his fifth year of college football and played in all four of Louisville’s games in 2024 before opting out of the season. He spent three years at Baylor before transferring to Louisville ahead of last season.

A native of Lexington, KY, Neal attended one of the most prolific high schools in the state, Frederick Douglass. As a three-star recruit, he did not receive any offers from his home state schools and elected to attend Baylor, his only Power Five offer at the time. Cincinnati (not yet in the Big 12), Bowling Green and Eastern Michigan were the only other teams to have offered him, according to his On3 recruiting profile.

During his three seasons in Waco, he became a key piece to the Bears’ defense. In 2022, he starred in his role having recorded the first two interceptions of his career to go with a sack, one forced fumble and 41 total tackles.

His only full season at Louisville saw him post career highs in almost every category. Finishing the season with 74 tackles (second-best on the team), his four interceptions tied for second in the ACC in 2023 to go with six passes defended on the year.

It’s a blow for the Cardinals’ defense, which hadn’t given up more than 20 points in a game until last week’s loss against Notre Dame.

Whether he wants to stay close to home, or weigh his options elsewhere remain to be seen, but he’ll likely have his choice of teams to pick from this offseason given his status as one of the ACC’s top defensive backs. Expected to have one year of eligibility left, any team would love to add a veteran playmaker to their secondary.

For Louisville, they’ll shift their focus to new ACC opponent, SMU. Kickoff is set for Noon ET live on ESPN.