2025 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: James Neal, LB, Texas State University

- Name: James Neal
- Position: LB
- College: Texas State University
- Height: 6’0′
- Weight: 230 lbs
- X (Twitter): @Kingf_24
- Instagram: @souljajimm
What made you decide you wanted to be a football player?
I’ve been in sports since 3rd grade, my mom and uncle wondered if I wanted to do this, and I said yes and it stuck with me since then and I really love the game.
What are your favorite moments from your football life?
First getting to FBS from Juco and getting sack in my first FBS game and playing in bowl games and first year in FBS and last year in FBS.
What are you looking to achieve as a football player going forward?
Getting into the next level and all the accolades and giving back to the next generation of the sport.
If you could hang out with any football player past or present for a day who and why?
Ray Lewis, we play the same position in football, and he has a lot of wisdom and can give me some tools and lead me in the right direction.
Which one of your family members inspires you the most and why?
My mother raised 3 kids on her own and she remains that figure in my life and makes me want to grind and I just want to give back to her doing this.
What is your favorite defensive scheme and why?
4-2-5, 2 linebackers on the field and that’s where I fit in well as an inside linebacker and it allows me to shoot into the gaps on the defensive line and play downhill.
What should we know about James Neal the person?
He’s a dog and a hustler and a gritty football player that knows how to grind and knows what it takes and doesn’t take shortcuts.
What stands out about your film the most?
How aggressive and quick I am and my nose for the ball, being around the ball at all times and my quick reactions and twitch.
How do you handle challenges both in life and on the football field?
I look at football and that it translates to life and it all correlates and you have to have discipline to get where you need to go and if your coaches can’t trust you on Saturday nights how can they trust you on 3rd and 7.
What would a team get in a player like you?
A dog, a workhorse, someone not going to cut any corners and compete with anyone and go and do it.
What do you love the most about the game of football?
It’s a gladiator’s sport, not everyone can do it and there’s a lot of physicality involved and you gotta have controlled aggression and know when to use it.
Who is the most underrated player you’ve played with and why?
Torey Richardson from Temple, he makes your best receivers look mediocre with his technique.
Writer/Scout/Interviewer for Draft Diamonds since January 2020. You can find me on X at @jrberendzen and Instagram at justinberendzen