Class of 2021 DB Julian Neal (CA) Portal to Arkansas

[RF2044]

This would be an incredible add.

And it would make the entire secondary pop.

 

[BillSU]

JULIAN NEAL 2021 PORTAL FROM FRESNO/STANFORD
# 15 6' 2" 200 DB

Syracuse Football: Top-ranked available defensive player in portal officially visiting

On Saturday, Syracuse football held its annual spring game. On Sunday, the Orange staff was expected to host an elite transfer on an official visit to the Hill.

insidetheloudhouse.com

On Saturday, Syracuse football held its annual spring game. On Sunday, the Orange staff was expected to host an elite transfer on an official visit to the Hill.
Per a post on X from top national writer Chris Hummer of 247Sports and CBS Sports, four-star transfer prospect Julian Neal, a cornerback at fellow Atlantic Coast Conference school Stanford, was set to officially visit the 'Cuse on April 13, which is awesome news.

Stanford CB transfer Julian Neal is set to take an official visit to Syracuse on April 13, his father tells @247Sports/@CBSSports.

Neal, who ranks as the No. 1 available defensive player in the portal, played for Fresno State last season.https://t.co/mWwgKJheKe pic.twitter.com/Sg06vN9Kun
— Chris Hummer (@chris_hummer) April 13, 2025

I had noted in a column on Saturday that Syracuse football was among the college squads showing an interest in the 6-foot-2, 200-pound Neal, according to a recent post on X from top national analyst Adam Friedman of .
Others reportedly displaying some level of interest in Neal, who hails from San Francisco, include California, Southern California, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida State, Virginia Tech, Kentucky, Georgia Tech, Missouri and Mississippi State, among others.

Hummer, in his post on X, wrote in part that Neal "ranks as the No. 1 available defensive player in the portal."
News recently broke that Neal planned to enter the portal. The spring transfer portal window will officially run from April 16 to April 25, although players are allowed a 30-day window to enter the portal following a head-coaching change, which occurred at Stanford in late March.

Syracuse football may want to add to its defensive backs room ahead of the 2025 season.​

When I wrote this article on Sunday morning, in its national transfer rankings, 247Sports placed Neal as four stars, No. 70 overall and No. 4 at cornerback.

During the most recent campaign, Neal was a standout junior at Mountain West Conference school Fresno State, which went 6-7 overall. Per that team, in the 2024 season, Neal generated 35 total tackles, 22 solo tackles, five tackles for a loss, one sack, two interceptions and six pass breakups.
He would enter the portal last December and transfer to Stanford. But then late last month, Cardinal head coach Troy Taylor was fired and replaced, on an interim basis for the 2025 term, with former NFL boss Frank Reich. That likely prompted Neal to decide to hit the portal again, and I assume he has one year of collegiate eligibility left.

 

[23Zone]

From Moe Neal to Julian Neal. Kneel to the Cuse

 

[Fowler]

Am I wrong that Fran just hired the Frenso st def coordinator at Su? If so he may follow his coach here.

 

[djorange1989]

Am I wrong that Fran just hired the Frenso st def coordinator at Su? If so he may follow his coach here.

Yes he did..

 

[Fowler]

And a do not contact on the portal? That I saw on another site so asking more then anything

 

[RF2044]

And a do not contact on the portal? That I saw on another site so asking more then anything

oh man... if that's true, you have to love the timing [favorable for us].

 

[djorange1989]

And a do not contact on the portal? That I saw on another site so asking more then anything

If true that is massive for us

 

[23Zone]

Follow the crumbs...

 

[310Pigpen]

Reposted this on his story. Trending the right way I’d say

 

[CA Monk]

View attachment 251182
Reposted this on his story. Trending the right way I’d say

Uninterpretable to me, but I guess it bodes well.

 

[CbusCuse]

The biggest thing that stands out is he knows how to tackle, goes for the waist or below and wraps up.

Agree on the know how to tackle part. Id say most players go for the waist or below. But his ability to run straight through the tackle and wrap instead of lowering his helmet and diving at the legs is what makes his form great. Would love this addition.

 

[Offthedome]

Agree on the know how to tackle part. Id say most players go for the waist or below. But his ability to run straight through the tackle and wrap instead of lowering his helmet and diving at the legs is what makes his form great. Would love this addition.

Remember when Duce used to do this his freshman year? I mean, tackle properly.

 

[CbusCuse]

Remember when Duce used to do this his freshman year? I mean, tackle properly.

Duce was playing CB his freshman year, which timing wise often has a lot more tackles where a player gets the ball and your instantly there to make the tackle. He can still tackle well in those situations. He now plays safety which often requires more tackles being made in the open field. When you have someone coming directly at you and running with speed, its a lot harder to tackle when you have to slow down, mirror their moves and then tackle them. You often can't run through them without leaving your feet and a lunge is usually required. That is a different type of tackle all together and much harder. Players are going to miss a lot more tackles in those types of situations. He's still a solid player and getting better as he gets more and more experience at safety.

 

[Offthedome]

Duce was playing CB his freshman year, which timing wise often has a lot more tackles where a player gets the ball and your instantly there to make the tackle. He can still tackle well in those situations. He now plays safety which often requires more tackles being made in the open field. When you have someone coming directly and you running with speed, its a lot harder to tackle when you have to slow down, mirror their moves and run through them without leaving your feet. That is a different type of tackle all together and much harder. Players are going to miss a lot more tackles in those types of situations. He's still a solid player and getting better as he gets more and more experience at safety.

Fair points.

 

[CA Monk]

Anybody. Anything.
Was hoping for a weekend commit.
He's a key piece and could be a difference maker IMH(armchair QB)O

 

[CuseLegacy]

Anybody. Anything.
Was hoping for a weekend commit.
He's a key piece and could be a difference maker IMH(armchair QB)O

You may have to wait awhile.

 

[normaliswear]

You may have to wait awhile.

Well... bummer

 

[CA Monk]

I get it:
♫The long and winding road♫

 

[sufan59]

You may have to wait awhile.

Dated on 4/11/2025 before our supposed visit yesterday.

 

[Orangefizz]

Just felt a 5.2 an earthquake in Julian, California. I’m taking that as a sign that Julian from San Francisco will be committing to Cuse

 

[OttoinGrotto]

I appreciate that we should always be crootin but how will portal stuff work with the roster spots limit stuff. Meaning, we're already projecting to be over and may be hoping for an easement grandfathering guys in, right? Would we even be allowed to add new guys into the mix?

 

[Cusefan69]

I appreciate that we should always be crootin but how will portal stuff work with the roster spots limit stuff. Meaning, we're already projecting to be over and may be hoping for an easement grandfathering guys in, right? Would we even be allowed to add new guys into the mix?

Probably fair to expect post Spring game that some guys may get the "talk ". You will maybe get a few who wish to go as their decision as well. That said we also have some freshman coming in July. Gotta believe that we will see attrition one way or another to get the counts right.

 

[CuseLegacy]

Dated on 4/11/2025 before our supposed visit yesterday.

Yes and he reposted it on his feed. All I'm saying is he may take multiple visits before making a commitment anywhere.

 

[sufan59]

Yes and he reposted it on his feed. All I'm saying is he may take multiple visits before making a commitment anywhere.

Makes sense. Not going to try to read between lines of when that was reposted lol. Definitely says a lot about the staff proactiveness to get him on campus immediately though.