From now until the 2026 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top 10 picks, all the way to Day 3 selections, and priority undrafted free agents. Today, a scouting report on Arkansas cornerback Julian Neal.
#23 JULIAN NEAL / CB, ARKANSAS (RS SENIOR) – 6014, 202 pounds.
Measurements
Player Ht/Wt Hand Size Arm Length Wingspan
Julian Neal 6014/202 N/A N/A N/A
40-Yard Dash 10-Yard Dash Short Shuttle 3-Cone
N/A N/A N/A N/A
Broad Jump Vertical Bench Press
N/A N/A N/A
The Good
— Very good size and length; NFL build
— Experience in man and zone coverage
— Impressive jam to redirect receivers
— Balance and patience in press
— Easy speed to match deep routes and to recover when at a disadvantage
— Good COD and gets downhill quickly in zone
— Uses his length well to get his hands into the catch area
— Aggressive attacking screens
— Tackling is good, gets the ball carrier down
— Strong as the force player on running plays in his direction
The Bad
— Matching inside release is not as consistent as matching outside
— Had stumbles on transitions
— Leaves a lot of space in off coverage
— Very grabby even on plays he isn’t at a disadvantage
— Rarely chases plays on the other side of the field; limited pursuit
— Doesn’t stick his face into tackles where teammate is already engaged
— Lacks physicality as a tackler
Stats
— 42 games/16 starts
— Career: 99 tackles, 61 solo, 8.5 TFL, 1 sack, 18 PBU, 4 INT
— 2025: 55 tackles, 32 solo, 2 TFL, 10 PBU, 2 INT
— 2021-2024 at Fresno State
— East-West Shrine Bowl invitee
— Career high 11 tackles vs Arkansas State
— Initially chose Stanford out of the transfer portal, but didn’t enroll
— 2023, 2024: Academic All-Mountain West
— Slow to disengage from blocks downfield
Injury History
— 2025: Left Tennessee game with concussion
Background
— Birthday: February 12, 2003 (23)
— Rated a three-star recruit by 247Sports
— Starred as a wide receiver, defensive end and defensive back for Mission High School
— All-City selection as a receiver
— All-City selection in basketball as well
— Volunteered with youth camps
— Received additional offers from Eastern Washington and San Jose State out of high school
— Uncle Aaron Criswell was a wide receiver at UNLV
Tape Breakdown
Julian Neal is a fifth-year defensive back from Arkansas. He played his first four years at Fresno State before the transfer. In coverage, he aligned on both sides of the field, playing in varied zone and man coverages. He is of very good height and weight, with very good arm length (over 33 inches) and very good hand size.
In man coverage, he shows good balance and patient feet when aligned in press. When using a jam, he uses good play strength and his length to slow receivers off the line. His hips are solid when matching receivers, and he has easy long speed to stay in-phase with deep routes.
When the opponent has the advantage, he displays good acceleration and make-up speed. Against in-breaking routes, he has the speed and agility to stay with the target. At the catch point, he uses his length well to get his hands into the catch basket.
A pair of pass breakups in man coverage.
From off coverage, he has good change of direction and can get downhill quickly. In zone coverage, when deep in cover-three, he gets plenty of depth with solid awareness of players coming into his area. When playing underneath, he plays with eyes on the quarterback and can get to targets quickly. Against screens, he defends aggressively, getting downhill quickly and using good hand placement when taking on blocks.
Here are some pass breakups from off or zone coverage.
Overall, he is good at getting the runner down. In run support to his side, he is willing to get downhill and is good as a force player on the edge.
When in press, he was less consistent in matching in-breaking routes. Hand choice when jamming is inconsistent. When transitioning either in backpedal or match a cut, there were several times when he stumbled, taking him out of position. In the off-man or underneath zone, he gets a lot of depth, leaving easy completions. Neal was very grabby, even when unnecessary, especially against in-breaking routes. When the play isn’t in his direction, he is poor at chasing the play. Rarely sticks his face in when others are already involved in the tackle. Against blockers away from the line of scrimmage, he is slow to disengage to get into the play.
In the first clip, his right foot slips. In the second clip, he catches a toe on the transition. I saw at least five instances of stumbles in coverage.
Some samples of him grabbing receivers when it probably isn’t necessary.
Conclusion
Overall, Neal is of very good size and length and is built for the NFL. He has experience in man and zone coverage and is a willing defender on runs in his area. In press, he shows patience and uses his length well when jamming, has very good speed and gets his hands in position to break up passes. He changes direction well and can get downhill quickly, showing good timing as a blitzer.
Areas to improve include eliminating stumbles in transitions, shortening his depth in off coverage, and showing better effort to chase the play. The grabbing of receivers needs to improve as well.
Neal fits the look of the cornerbacks the Steelers have looked for in recent seasons. His length and athleticism are impressive, and he’s an easy mover. College defensive backs get away with grabbing way more than what is allowed in the NFL. If he can clean that up, he’ll be a surefire starter in the NFL. His best fit is as an outside corner in a press-man/cover-three type defense.
For a player comp, I’ll give you Carlton Davis. Similar build, made for press coverage and good ball skills. He, too, was grabby, had some stumbles, and had room to improve in off-coverage.
NFL Projection: Third RoundSteelers Depot Grade: 8.3 (Long-time Starter)Grade Range: 7.7 – 8.6Games Watched: 2025 – At Ole Miss, Vs Notre Dame, Vs Texas A&M, Vs Auburn, At Texas
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