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

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Oct 7, 2023; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Louisville Cardinals defensive back Devin Neal (27) returns an interception past Notre Dame Fighting Irish tight end Mitchell Evans (88) during the second half at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium. Louisville defeated Notre Dame 33-20. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images

Louisville has become a transfer portal program under alum Jeff Brohm. The roster-building strategy on Floyd Street is crystal clear. Under that type operation, there will be some high-way two-way traffic. We saw that play out in the spring when Tyler Baron (Tennessee-Louisville-Miami), Wesley Walker (Georgia Tech-Tennessee-Louisville-Michigan), and Peny Boone (Maryland-Toledo-Louisville-UCF) all became double-digit transfers.

Another move was made this week before Louisville’s home loss to SMU as a touchdown favorite. Starting safety Devin Neal left the Louisville team this week and plans to enter the transfer portal after playing in only four games. Louisville’s defense allowed 34 points and nearly 500 yards of offense after the news broke.

The Lexington (Ky.) Fredrick Douglass product was a three-star recruit in the class of 2020 who signed with Baylor. Neal spent three seasons in the Big 12 and recorded 41 tackles with two interceptions as a true junior. The defensive back entered the transfer portal after the 2022 season and landed at Louisville.

After Louisville lost starting safety MJ Griffin to injury, Devin Neal stepped into the starting lineup. As a true senior, Neal recorded 74 tackles, six pass breakups, four interceptions, three tackles for loss, and two pressures in 662 snaps.

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In the offseason, Griffin returned from injury and Tennessee transfer Tamarion McDonald was added to the roster. Devin Neal play 70 total snaps the first two weeks but started to see his playing time decrease as both Griffin and McDonald out-snapped Neal in games against Georgia Tech and Notre Dame. Following the loss in South Bend, Neal left the program and will preserve his redshirt to return to college football for his sixth year in 2025.

Will Kentucky get involved in Devin Neal’s third recruitment after Zion Childress and Kristian Story leave the program following the season? That is to be determined but the new college football world has created non-stop player movement.