University of Florida safety Keanu Neal became the second Florida Gator drafted in the 2016 NFL Draft when the Atlanta Falcons selected him No. 17 overall in the first round.
Neal said deciding to forego his final season of eligibility at Florida was the “hardest he ever made,” but the potential to realize a lifelong dream was too much to pass up. Neal realized that dream on Thursday night.
A safety from South Sumter High School, Neal appeared in all 12 games during his freshman season, leading the team with tackles on special teams, while serving as a backup safety. Neal moved into a starting role at safety his sophomore season, playing in 10 games with eight starts, missing time with a hamstring injury.
As a junior Keanu Neal missed the first two games of the season with a hamstring injury but appeared in 12 games with 11 starts. Despite missing two games Neal finished third on the team with 96 tackles, 3.5 tackles for a loss, 2.0 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 pass breakup and 1 quarterback hurry.
Neal was a late riser in the draft this year. Many draft pundits and prognosticators didn’t feel that Neal would be selected in the first three rounds, but Neal impressed NFL teams with his workouts at the NFL Scouting Combine as well as his personality and demeanor off the field in interviews.