Louisville safety Devin Neal has joined the growing contingent of college athletes who chose to redshirt and plan to transfer after the season. Coming off a third-team All-ACC selection, he’ll have his fair share of suitors, but which landing spots make the most sense?
Where Will Devin Neal Transfer?
This time last year, Neal was in the midst of his best campaign yet. Following three years at Baylor, he committed to Jeff Brohm’s debut Cardinals roster, and after projected starter M.J. Griffin suffered a season-ending injury in fall camp, Neal was thrust into the starting lineup.
The result was the second most tackles on the team (74) and the 19th most interceptions in the country (four). At ACC Media Days this summer, Neal seemed primed for yet another productive season.
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“I feel very comfortable,” Neal said. I’m still trying to get 1% better each day. Just working on body mechanics. Just my headspace as far as know[ing] what other guys are doing and just talking pre-snap because that’s the biggest thing with defense. I feel like just everybody on the same page. That’s how defense just goes lights out. So, I feel like it’s going to be great just being the second year.”
Unfortunately, that hasn’t been the case. The Cardinals have had five safeties play over 100 snaps in 2024 — Neal isn’t one of them. In fact, he watched his snaps diminish in each of the first four games, leading to his decision to leave the program before Week 6’s home loss to SMU.
So, what’s next for the Lexington, Ky., native? Well, speaking of Kentucky …
Kentucky Wildcats
The Wildcats may not have recruited Neal as a three-star prospect out of Frederick Douglass High School, but he should be on their radar next offseason. Backup safety Kristian Story and starting slot defender Zion Childress will be out of eligibility, and although sophomore Ty Bryant and redshirt junior Jordan Lovett will presumably return, depth could be a concern.
Neal’s ball skills, awareness, and willingness to get dirty in the run game should translate well to Kentucky’s zone-heavy scheme.
Wisconsin Badgers
Neal originally committed to play for Luke Fickell and the Cincinnati Bearcats until officially visiting Baylor and flipping to the Bears. Fickell is now the head coach at Wisconsin, and with the Badgers’ three snap leaders at safety set to depart after the season, he could rekindle his connection with Neal.
Indiana Hoosiers
The Hoosiers have hit the ground running under first-year head coach Curt Cignetti, posting their first 6-0 start in 57 years. Regardless of how the season ends, Indiana is clearly here to stay, but the DB room will need reinforcements, with starters Shawn Asbury II and Josh Sanguinetti exhausting their eligibility.
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Neal could earn a rotational — if not first-team — role on one of the best teams in the Big Ten while being just a two-hour car ride further away from home.
Nebraska Cornhuskers
While Neal began his career under Dave Aranda at Baylor, he actually committed to play for Matt Rhule, having committed to the Bears just three weeks before Rhule left for the Carolina Panthers.
Rhule returned to the college ranks as Nebraska’s head coach last season and has been liberal with his use of the portal. Nearly half the secondary will be gone in 2025, opening the door for a potential one-year reunion with Neal.
The MAC
There’s no guarantee Neal will receive an opportunity to start at a Power Five team this offseason. However, he would instantly upgrade any number of Group of Five secondaries, including two MAC teams that offered him out of high school: Bowling Green and Eastern Michigan.
Both coaching staffs are still in place and have used the portal to improve their defensive backfields last spring. While neither is particularly close to Neal’s hometown, both are under one-hour flights to Lexington, making them convenient options if proximity to home is a factor in his decision-making process.
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