Tag: Evan Neal

73 days until Alabama football kicks off the 2024 season

Alabama football will kickoff the 2024 season in just 73 days!

In 73 days, Kalen DeBoer will usher in a new era of Alabama Crimson Tide football, replacing the legendary [autotag]Nick Saban[/autotag] as head coach in Tuscaloosa.

Coach DeBoer and the Crimson Tide will take on the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers on Aug. 31 to kick off the 2024 college football season inside Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Here at Roll Tide Wire, we will count down the days until Alabama football takes the field.

Today, with just 73 days remaining, we will take a look at one of the best at Alabama to wear No. 73, [autotag]Evan Neal[/autotag].

Neal was a day-one starter for Alabama as a freshman in 2019. Neal would get starts at right guard, right tackle, and left tackle during his career in Tuscaloosa. Neal was selected with the No. 7 overall selection during the 2022 NFL draft by the New York Giants.

Redshirt freshman offensive lineman Olaus Alinen currently wears No. 73 for the Crimson Tide.

Evan Neal’s Photo Gallery

Giants’ Brian Daboll, Mike Kafka: Evan Neal can be counted on

New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka says embattled right tackle Evan Neal can be counted on.

New York Giants offensive lineman Evan Neal continues to rehab his surgically repaired ankle, and the process is taking longer than expected.

With surgery completed in January, Neal expected to be back on the field in time for organized team activities (OTAs). Instead, he remains on the sideline watching while his ankle continues to heal.

Even with his delayed return to action, Brian Daboll and Mike Kafka agree that Neal can be counted on when he’s ready to go.

“We can count on him. He’s in here, he’s working his butt off, and hopefully, when everybody gets back, like I said yesterday, I’m hopeful we’re going to have everybody ready to go in terms of how Ronnie Barnes has set it up and Aaron Wellman has set it up,” Daboll told reporters on Wednesday. “Evan is on his program in terms of trying to get back as soon as he can. He’s doing everything he can do.”

Kafka shares Daboll’s sentiment.

“Absolutely I can count on Evan Neal. He’s going through his rehab process and I know he’s eager to get out there,” Kafka said. “All those meetings in the O-line room, he’s asking great questions and really into it and trying to get better. The medical side of it, our staff is going to take care of him and make sure he’s on schedule. Whenever he’s ready to go, he’ll be ready to go.”

Neal has underwhelmed since the Giants drafted him in 2022, but his effort isn’t going unnoticed. He wants to perform well; he’s trying to learn what he can in meetings and from watching practice.

The Giants hope this translates to better on-field performance in 2024.

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Giants expect a full roster of healthy players for training camp

New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll expects a roster near complete health by the time training camp begins in July.

The New York Giants opened their annual spring minicamp at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Tuesday. The two-day session is mandatory to all players but head coach Brian Daboll said everyone would not be participating in full.

Quarterback Daniel Jones, who is rehabbing from a torn ACL suffered midseason last year, is going to have his activities slightly curtailed this week.

“I think we’ll keep him out of team drills, continue the rehab process. He’s really right on point with where he needs to be,” Daboll told reporters. “But in terms of the team, we’ll keep him out here the next few days and get him ready to go for training camp.

“We’ll only do team stuff today, so be it’ll be individual, it’ll be team. Won’t do 7-on-7 today. That’s no reflection of DJ or where he is at. He’s not too happy about it, but we’re going to go all team today.”

Right tackle Evan Neal, who played in just seven games last season due to an ankle injury, will also not participate in full at camp this week.

“No, you’ll see him at training camp,” Daboll said when asked about Neal doing anything beyond walkthroughs.

“He’s kind of about the same. He’s about the same. He has done some various things. We thought for the next couple of days, we’ll back off on him.”

Daboll then revealed that this week is just the first step. The goal is to have everyone ready for training camp the end of July.

“We’re going to back off him here and hopefully we can get — the plan is right now as of whatever today is, is I think we should have everybody ready to go for training camp, which is important,” he said.

After this week, the Giants will not reconvene as a team until July 24 when training camp opens.

If there is a player who may not be ready for training camp, it’s wide receiver Chase Cota, who suffered a broken collarbone on Tuesday.

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Giants’ Jon Runyan offers high praise for John Michael Schmitz

New York Giants guard Jon Runyan Jr. has been impressed by second-year center John Michael Schmitz: “Rarely makes a mistake.”

New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen knew after last season he needed to upgrade the interior of the offensive line.

Schoen quickly inked two veterans — Jon Runyan Jr. and Jermaine Eluemunor — to solidify what was a glaring weakness in 2023. Runyan will likely be asked to play in between second-year center John Michael Schmitz and third-year left tackle Evan Neal.

Head coach Brian Daboll did not completely confirm that on Thursday at the team’s ninth OTA session but did talk about how well Runyan has been acclimating to his new teammates.

“He’s played in multiple spots. He’s a pro,” Daboll said of Runyan.

“(Director of pro scouting) Chris Rossetti and his staff and Joe have done a good job of identifying smart and tough. He communicates well. I think that’s important between Jon and Evan to have a good communicator. It’s important on the left side with Eluemenor and (Andrew Thomas) as well.”

Runyan spoke extensively about both Schmitz and Neal, reminding reporters that they “are two young guys, but they’re really mature for their age” and how impressed he was with both of them.

“It has really been amazing playing next to John Michael. If I would’ve came in here not knowing his background, I would’ve thought he was a five-year veteran. He comes in here and he takes it serious. He is on top of his stuff. He rarely makes a mistake, he gets everybody set on the offensive line,” Runyan said.

“Having a center like that is awesome. It helps everybody out, the five across. Helps out the quarterback, helps out the running back when everybody is set, so having John Michael in there has been really important.

“Evan, I don’t know what Evan is dealing with, but he hasn’t been in there any of the team periods. He’s been in there in walk-through. I think he’s been taking his time getting his body right, understanding our scheme. When we are in there in walk-throughs together he’s been on top of his stuff. He’s been helping me out because this is still kind of a new scheme, something I’ve never done before. He’s helping me. He’s in my ear about it, too.”

The Giants allowed 85 sacks last year, the most in the NFL since 1986. With new unit coach Carmen Bricillo more in tune with Daboll’s way of doing things plus the new additions, the Giants should see much better results from the offensive line in 2024.

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Evan Neal named Giants’ X-factor ahead of 2024 season

Embattled right tackle Evan Neal has been named the New York Giants’ X-factor for the 2024 regular season.

The New York Giants have been patient this far into offensive lineman Evan Neal’s career.

Neal was, of course, selected by the Giants with the seventh overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft out of the University of Alabama.

Following a poor rookie season, Neal left plenty to be desired in an injury-filled sophomore campaign in 2023.

Heading into a crucial, and possibly make-or-break year for Neal, PFF has named him as the Giants’ X-factor.

X-factor for 2024: OT Evan Neal

Evan Neal’s struggles are emblematic of the Giants’ offensive line struggles as a whole. He has posted just a 42.5 overall grade through his first two seasons. 2024 is a make-or-break year for Neal, and there could be pressure on him to perform early in the season, with Jermaine Eluemunor fully capable of starting at right tackle in his stead.

The Giants invested in the offensive line in free agency, most notably signing Jon Runyan Jr. and Jermaine Eluemunor which should help Neal and the offensive line in general. There are, however, still questions regarding how the new acquisitions will fit into the rotation.

Neal will have a brand new offensive line coach to work with in Carmen Bricillo. Of course, any chance Neal has at turning his career around with a strong third season in the NFL starts with him staying healthy for Big Blue.

With the Giants letting Saquon Barkley walk in free agency, it will be more important than ever for the offensive line to step up moving forward, and a lot of the success of the line rests on the shoulders of Evan Neal.

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Will Giants RT Evan Neal resurrect his career in 2024?

Can embattled New York Giants right tackle Evan Neal stay healthy and resurrect his career in 2024?

Embattled New York Giants right tackle Evan Neal faces significant pressure entering the 2024 season.

After two years plagued by injury, inconsistency and, at times, downright ugly play, the clock is ticking on the seventh overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft. Neal either has to settle in or get shipped out.

“Still have confidence in him at right tackle,” general manager Joe Schoen said in January.

There had been rumors about the Giants potentially moving Neal inside to guard, but they have been dispelled thus far. Even with organized team activities (OTAs) now underway, the team seems intent on keeping Neal at tackle to bookend Andrew Thomas.

“We’ll start him at right tackle,” head coach Brian Daboll said this week.

With a third opportunity to get it right, will Neal resurrect his career in 2024? Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report seems to think so.

Entering his third season, there are no shortage of doubters where Neal is concerned. The addition of Jermaine Eluemunor in free agency has raised questions about whether Neal will even start at right tackle or could kick inside to guard.

However, if there’s one person who has no doubts about Neal’s viability as a starter at tackle, it’s the massive 6’7″, 350-pounder himself.

“I’ve put a lot of dominant reps on tape,” Neal told reporters. “A lot of times they go unnoticed. A lot of times the reps that I struggle get highlighted. But if you really sit back and watch the tape, I do a lot of good things. I do a lot of dominant things on the football field. In my opinion, as soon as I stepped out of the womb, I stepped out as an offensive tackle.”

On paper at least, Neal would appear to have all the tools to be a successful NFL tackle, whether it’s size, length or plus agility for a player his size. But for whatever reason, he just hasn’t been able to put it together. Neal can’t stay on the field, and when he is out there, he has struggled more often than not — especially in pass protection.

Davenport, like many others, believes moving Neal to guard might be the best move for both him and the team. That would allow free agent addition Jermaine Eluemunor, who is currently seeing time at left guard, to play right tackle.

But the Giants are not subscribing to this theory. At least not yet. Despite all the noise and pressure, they are intent on giving Neal one final shot to become an anchor at right tackle.

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Giants’ Jon Runyan working at RG, Jermaine Eluemunor at LG

Brian Daboll says Jon Runyan is working at RG, Jermaine Eluemunor at LG and Evan Neal is working at RT during OTAs.

The New York Giants’ offensive line was among the worst in the NFL in 2023. Changes have been made in personnel and the Giants are looking for the right player placement to avoid a repeat of last season.

In this effort, Jon Runyan has been working at right guard, Jermaine Eluemunor is at left guard, and Evan Neal is at right tackle, head coach Brian Daboll revealed on Thursday.

Runyan was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL draft and played his first four seasons at right guard. It stands to reason that the Giants would want to keep him there since that’s where his experience lies.

Eluemunor, who also has experience at right tackle, was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL draft. He bounced around to various teams over his career but hasn’t found his home.

Because he has more in-game experience under his belt and hasn’t really solidified his position as a right guard, it stands to reason the Giants would try him on the left side.

Neal was drafted by the Giants in 2022 and has largely disappointed. His struggle to acclimate to the NFL is part of why the offensive line continues to struggle. If he doesn’t solidify himself as a starting right tackle this season, his career is going to look very different going forward.

All three players have a lot to play for, a big reason to put forth the effort to make this offensive line successful. Hopefully, the Giants’ plans for this trio results in better protection for whichever quarterback is under center in 2024.

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Report: Giants reached out to Evan Neal’s team about moving to guard

The New York Giants reportedly reached out to Evan Neal’s team to discuss the possibility of him moving inside to left guard.

The New York Giants focused heavily on retooling their offensive line over the first week of free agency, signing Jermaine Eluemunor, Jon Runyan Jr., Austin Schlottmann, and Aaron Stinnie.

Of the group, only Eluemunor has significant experience at tackle.

After their introductory press conferences, it seems like Runyan and Eluemunor are slated to play guard with Schlottmann and Stinnie serving as backups. It would also mean Evan Neal reassumes his role as the team’s starting right tackle.

“Evan Neal is a really good player in my opinion. I think he has a lot of potential,” Eluemunor told reporters.

But those roles aren’t quite set in stone. At least not yet.

ESPN’s Jordan Raanan reports that the Giants have reached out to Neal’s team to discuss the possibility of him moving to guard. More specifically, to left guard alongside Andrew Thomas.

“I’ve also heard that the Giants had talked with Evan Neal’s team a little bit about playing left guard,” Raanan said on the Breaking Big Blue podcast.

For now, Neal remains penciled in at right tackle but Raanan doesn’t believe that will remain the case long-term — unless, of course, Neal drastically improves.

“Evan Neal, from what I understand, is the right tackle only until he’s not the right tackle,” Raanan said.

General manager Joe Schoen has refused to publicly entertain the idea of Neal moving inside to guard but it’s slowly becoming the most likely outcome.

Expect Neal and Eluemunor to see time at right tackle throughout the summer with a final decision being made closer to Week 1.

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9 questions Giants GM Joe Schoen must answer at NFL Combine

New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen will meet with reporters at the 2024 NFL Combine and these are 9 questions he must answer.

The 2024 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana gets underway on Tuesday, February 27 as teams and prospects begin to arrive for the “Underwear Olympics.”

Although on-field drills don’t officially begin until Thursday, press conferences are lined up to start the week. 26 of the league’s 32 general managers will speak, including New York Giants GM Joe Schoen.

Schoen will take the podium on Tuesday morning at 10:00 a.m. ET and he’ll have a boatload of questions that need answering.

Here’s a look at nine topics Schoen must address.

Note: Giants head coach Brian Daboll is one of 12 coaches who is not slated to conduct a formal interview.

Giants’ offensive building blocks ranked among NFL’s worst

Bleacher Report ranks the New York Giants’ offensive building blocks among the NFL’s worst and offers this take: “Meh.”

The New York Giants’ roster has improved from where it was two years ago when general manager Joe Schoen took over.

In his first offseason as GM, the Giants were in salary cap hell and extremely limited in the moves they could make. Things cleared up a bit last year but there still wasn’t a massive spending spree.

Although some positions have seen a boost, the Giants remain needy — especially on the offensive side of the ball.

That’s something Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report recognized this week as he ranked every team’s offensive building blocks. The Giants checked in near the bottom under the “jury’s very much out” category.

22. New York Giants: The Giants are loaded with young offensive players who have failed to show significant signs of becoming major contributors. The list? It starts with practically the entire offensive line beyond 25-year-old Andrew Thomas (namely John Michael Schmitz and Evan Neal, who are 24 and 24, respectively), and spans into the pass-catching corps with Wan’Dale Robinson (23), Jalin Hyatt (22) and Daniel Bellinger (23). Meh.

Certainly, elite tackle Andrew Thomas gives the Giants one of the league’s top building blocks. After that, it is seemingly a bunch of unproven young players.

Wan’Dale Robinson showed flashes this past season. However, he needs to continue trending in the right direction and, most importantly, stay on the field.

As for John Michael Schmitz and Evan Neal, the Giants hope they can be long-term solutions on the offensive line. However, Neal is looking like a bust and Schmitz was a mixed bag during his rookie season.

Schoen has plenty of work to do to improve the roster, especially on the offensive side of the ball. Given the status of the offense, it would be no surprise if they spent their first few picks in the draft on offensive players and focused heavily on the O-line in free agency.

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