Evan Neal shares excitement of seeing NFL draft process come to an end

The process of becoming an NFL Draft pick isn’t simple. After first declaring for the draft, prospects then begin training ahead of the NFL Combine. At the combine, they have the chance to showcase their skills in front of team scouts and then begin discussions with certain teams. Following the combine, the draft finally arrives – and prospects must wait to hear their names called.

When a prospect hears their name called during the NFL Draft, it concludes a long, tiring few months of preparation – and gives the player plenty of excitement to officially be in the NFL. That was certainly the case for former Alabama offensive tackle Evan Neal, who was selected No. 7 overall by the New York Giants in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

In his introductory press conference after being picked by the Giants, Neal shared his excitement of seeing the NFL draft process finally come to an end.

“The uncertainty of the pre-draft process is all over now, and now I can really just get back to the main thing, which is football,” Neal said. “So, it’s a really good feeling for sure to be able to come in and just work as hard as I can and just help the team.

“It’s definitely a great feeling.”

Neal – a former On3 Consensus five-star recruit out of the Class of 2019 – was a standout during his three seasons at Alabama. While playing in 40 career games with the Crimson Tide, Neal played a significant role in the success of the team’s high-powered offense.

A 6-foot-7, 350 pound tackle, Neal joins a Giants team that went just 4-13 overall in 2021. After firing head coach Joe Judge, New York brought in Brian Daboll – the former Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator – to lead the organization into the future.