Marcus Neal Jr. S Penn State |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #31 ROLE: Zone Box/Strong Safety | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 08/03/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.44 seconds (88%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jersey: #31 | |
| ROLE: Zone Box/Strong Safety | |
| Last Updated: 08/03/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2027 | |
| Forty time: 4.44 seconds (88%*) | |
| Overall Rating: |
84.2 / 100
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
|
78% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 73.6 | |
| Tackling: |
|
78% |
| Run Defense: |
|
92% |
| Coverage: |
|
78% |
| Zone: |
|
71% |
| Man/Press: |
|
77% |
|
DRAFT PROJECTION:
3rd
Overall Rank:
#96
Position rank:
#18 (DB)
|
||
| College Games: 22 College Snaps: 793 | ||
ESPN RATING: 75/100
|
||
247 RATING: 90/100
|
||
|
RIVALS RATING: 5.5 (90%)
|
||
| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Lathan Ransom - Ohio State |
|
94% |
| Jonas Sanker - Virginia |
|
88% |
| Isaiah Nwokobia - SMU |
|
82% |
Draft Profile: Bio
The Missouri Class 5 Defensive Player of the Year out of Raytown South near Kansas City, Neal recorded 100 tackles and five interceptions as a senior and signed with Iowa State as a four-star and a top-35 safety in the 2024 class.He played all thirteen games as a true freshman in 2024, collecting 18 tackles and a sack, then moved into the starting lineup as a sophomore.
In 2025 Neal posted 77 tackles, two interceptions, a sack and a forced fumble across twelve games, adding 33 run stops as a downhill presence. He opened the season strong against Kansas State and emerged as one of the Big 12's more productive young safeties before transferring to Penn State after the year. The 77-tackle, two-interception season drew all-conference consideration and made him one of the more sought-after safeties in the transfer portal.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- His run defense is excellent, a downhill force from the box
- Plus straight-line speed with the closing burst to chase plays
- Posted eighty tackles and eleven tackles for loss from the box
- Took an interception off Cincinnati while playing near the line
- Size at 215 pounds to take on blocks and fit the run
- Fills downhill fast to meet runs in the backfield
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Trail-man coverage trails the run-game and zone work
- Missed eleven tackles despite the heavy snap volume this year
- Deep coverage range is fewer of his snaps than box duty
- Ball production is modest for a full-season starter
Scouting Report: Summary
Neal is a downhill box safety with rare speed, an aggressive 215-pounder whose a physical, reliable run defender and whose production near the line stands out: eighty tackles, eleven tackles for loss, and an interception off Cincinnati. He triggers downhill fast, takes on blocks, and chases plays with closing burst. The speed-and-physicality combination from the box gives him a projectable strong-safety and sub-package identity at the next level.The coverage detail is the development area. His man coverage trails the run-game and zone work, he missed eleven tackles despite the heavy volume, and his deep coverage range is fewer of his snaps than box duty. His ball production is modest for a full-season starter. He is a run-and-hit safety whose pass coverage in space has to develop to earn a true three-down role.
Deploy him as a starting box safety and sub-package run defender who blitzes, takes on blocks, and chases plays, a Day 3 contributor now headed to a bigger program. The man-coverage and range limits keep the grade measured, but the speed and the run-game production are bankable. He grades as a downhill strong safety whose value sits near the line of scrimmage. The run defense and the speed are the bankable traits, and the coverage is the bet.
How other scouting services rate Marcus Neal Jr. (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
70.7
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
14.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.