re: Class of 2017 Recruiting MEGATHREAD: Say Your Goodbyes Edition

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Neal still strongly considering Alabama

Evan Neal was an Alabama commit for a little over a week, but he remains high on the Crimson Tide.

Neal, a 6-foot-7, 360-pound sophomore (yes, you read that correctly) offensive lineman from IMG Academy, told SEC Country over the weekend that the only reason why he de-committed from Alabama in the first place was because he’s only 15 years old. His family believed it was premature to make a college decision that early.

“I still have an ample amount of time to figure out what I want to do,” Neal said. “I still love Alabama.”

Neal said he doesn’t have any favorites right now, but he mentioned Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Florida State and Miami as several schools that have his attention. He did say that he wants to play in the SEC, so Alabama should remain in the mix for him until he’s ready to make his decision.

“I like Alabama a lot, obviously, because I committed to them,” Neal said. “They are always going to be high on my list.”

When he visited Tuscaloosa over the summer, one thing stood out to him immediately — championship trophies.

“It gave me goosebumps,” Neal said.

Just how good is Neal? Well, for being on a team that has a roster full of college football prospects, he is a starter. For being 15 years old and 360 pounds, he carries his weight very well.

He said he’s by far the biggest person in his family. He has a cousin who is a defensive end that stands at 6-foot-8, but he only weighs 260 pounds. His massiveness is a huge reason why Neal will be a highly rated national recruit when the 2019 rankings come out.

With Neal at IMG Academy, a football powerhouse, expect him to get stronger and better as he competes against future college football players daily. He also has two teammates, Thomas Fletcher and Trey Sanders (another 2019 recruit), who are currently committed to Alabama. Those two guys talk about Alabama a lot to him, but he already has a favorable opinion of the Tide.

“I love that offensive line. They have so much tradition,” Neal said. “They just go out there and hit people in the mouth. I love it. I also want to go to the NFL one day. I was thinking (at the time of committing) that Alabama is the best place for me to make that happen.”

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