Marshall University Athletics
2021 Football Roster
Roster
Neal, Eli

Jersey Number 24
Eli Neal
- Height:
- 6-2
- Weight:
- 223
- Class:
- Sophomore
- Hometown:
- Memphis, TN
- High School:
- White Station
Bio
2023 Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference First Team – Athlon, SBC Coaches
2023 Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference Second Team – Phil Steele
2022 All-Sun Belt Conference Honorable Mention
2021 All-Conference USA Honorable Mention
2020 All-Conference USA Honorable Mention
JUNIOR SEASON (2022): Was named as an All-SBC Honorable Mention selection after finishing the year with a team-best 98 tackles, including 9.5 for loss with three sacks. Also had three pass deflections and an interception to his credit … Had four games in which he had double-digit tackles … Finished with a season-high 14 tackles against Coastal Carolina … Had 11 tackles, an interception and two quarterback hurries against Georgia Southern … Notched 10 tackles in the upset over No. 8 Notre Dame … Ended the 2022 year with 10 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss in the Myrtle Beach Bowl win over UConn.
SOPHOMORE SEASON (2021): Named an All-Conference USA Honorable Mention selection after finishing the season with 97 tackles, which was second on the team. Those 97 tackles included seven tackles for loss, including 5.5 sacks. Also had two fumble recoveries, an interception, a forced fumble and nine quarterback hurries … Had 12 tackles, a forced fumble and fumble recovery at App State … Opened the season with 11 tackles, including three sacks in the win at Navy … Had two tackles for loss, a sack and an interception at North Texas.
SOPHOMORE SEASON (2020 - COVID): Young linebacker blossomed into a star in 2020 … Played in all 10 games, starting all of them … Finished his breakout season with 75 tackles, 5.0 tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks, one interception, one pass breakup and one fumble recovery … Capped his performance by earning All-Conference USA Honorable Mention recognition … Set a new career high with eight tackles in a season opener win against EKU – Neal’s first career start … Four tackles in a win against nationally ranked Appalachian State … Five tackles in a big road win at WKU … Seven tackles and his first career interception in a win at Louisiana Tech … Career-high 15 tackles, including one for a loss, vs. Rice … 12 tackles in the Conference USA Championship Game.
FRESHMAN SEASON (2019): Played a key role as a backup linebacker and on special teams as a true freshman … Saw action in all 13 games … Made 12 tackles, plus 0.5 tackles for a loss … Three tackles in collegiate debut vs. VMI … One tackle at nationally ranked Boise State … Career-high four tackles vs. nationally ranked Cincinnati … Two tackles in a win at FAU … One tackle in a win vs. WKU … One tackle in a win vs. LA Tech … Played in the Gasparilla Bowl vs. UCF.
HERD FILE: Summer enrollee for the Thundering Herd … Rated a two-star prospect by Rivals.com … Also had offers from Arkansas, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Austin Peay, Chattanooga, East Tennessee State, Eastern Kentucky, Indiana State, Jackson State, Mercer, Southeast Missouri State, Southern Illinois, Tennessee Tech, Tennessee-Martin and Western Illinois … Played outside linebacker, middle linebacker and running back at White Station … Posted 95 tackles and two interceptions on defense with 750 yards and 12 touchdowns on offense as a senior.
2023 Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference Second Team – Phil Steele
2022 All-Sun Belt Conference Honorable Mention
2021 All-Conference USA Honorable Mention
2020 All-Conference USA Honorable Mention
JUNIOR SEASON (2022): Was named as an All-SBC Honorable Mention selection after finishing the year with a team-best 98 tackles, including 9.5 for loss with three sacks. Also had three pass deflections and an interception to his credit … Had four games in which he had double-digit tackles … Finished with a season-high 14 tackles against Coastal Carolina … Had 11 tackles, an interception and two quarterback hurries against Georgia Southern … Notched 10 tackles in the upset over No. 8 Notre Dame … Ended the 2022 year with 10 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss in the Myrtle Beach Bowl win over UConn.
SOPHOMORE SEASON (2021): Named an All-Conference USA Honorable Mention selection after finishing the season with 97 tackles, which was second on the team. Those 97 tackles included seven tackles for loss, including 5.5 sacks. Also had two fumble recoveries, an interception, a forced fumble and nine quarterback hurries … Had 12 tackles, a forced fumble and fumble recovery at App State … Opened the season with 11 tackles, including three sacks in the win at Navy … Had two tackles for loss, a sack and an interception at North Texas.
SOPHOMORE SEASON (2020 - COVID): Young linebacker blossomed into a star in 2020 … Played in all 10 games, starting all of them … Finished his breakout season with 75 tackles, 5.0 tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks, one interception, one pass breakup and one fumble recovery … Capped his performance by earning All-Conference USA Honorable Mention recognition … Set a new career high with eight tackles in a season opener win against EKU – Neal’s first career start … Four tackles in a win against nationally ranked Appalachian State … Five tackles in a big road win at WKU … Seven tackles and his first career interception in a win at Louisiana Tech … Career-high 15 tackles, including one for a loss, vs. Rice … 12 tackles in the Conference USA Championship Game.
FRESHMAN SEASON (2019): Played a key role as a backup linebacker and on special teams as a true freshman … Saw action in all 13 games … Made 12 tackles, plus 0.5 tackles for a loss … Three tackles in collegiate debut vs. VMI … One tackle at nationally ranked Boise State … Career-high four tackles vs. nationally ranked Cincinnati … Two tackles in a win at FAU … One tackle in a win vs. WKU … One tackle in a win vs. LA Tech … Played in the Gasparilla Bowl vs. UCF.
HERD FILE: Summer enrollee for the Thundering Herd … Rated a two-star prospect by Rivals.com … Also had offers from Arkansas, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Austin Peay, Chattanooga, East Tennessee State, Eastern Kentucky, Indiana State, Jackson State, Mercer, Southeast Missouri State, Southern Illinois, Tennessee Tech, Tennessee-Martin and Western Illinois … Played outside linebacker, middle linebacker and running back at White Station … Posted 95 tackles and two interceptions on defense with 750 yards and 12 touchdowns on offense as a senior.
Marshall Football: Player Post-Game Interviews (Week 2 | Missouri State)
Sunday, September 07
Marshall Football: Tony Gibson Post-Game Press Conference (Week 2 | Missouri State)
Sunday, September 07
Marshall Football: Player Weekly Interviews
Tuesday, September 02
Marshall Football: Tony Gibson Weekly Press Conference (Week 2 | Missouri State)
Tuesday, September 02