Marcus Neal Jr. S Penn State |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #31 ROLE: Zone Box/Strong Safety | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 11/03/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.44 seconds (88%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #31 | |
| ROLE: Zone Box/Strong Safety | |
| Last Updated: 11/03/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2027 | |
| Forty time: 4.44 seconds (88%*) | |
| Overall Rating: |
83.4 / 100
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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77% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 107.6 | |
| Tackling: |
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83% |
| Run Defense: |
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93% |
| Coverage: |
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84% |
| Zone: |
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79% |
| Man/Press: |
|
82% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
4th
Overall Rank:
#133
Position rank:
#31 (DB)
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| College Games: 29 College Snaps: 973 | ||
ESPN RATING: 75/100
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247 RATING: 90/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.5 (90%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Craig Woodson - California |
|
85% |
| Brad Hawkins - Michigan |
|
85% |
| Jonas Sanker - Virginia |
|
83% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Marcus Neal Jr. played at Raytown South High School in the Kansas City area, finishing his senior season with 100 tackles and five interceptions while scoring 15 touchdowns on offense. He was a three-star recruit and the No. 19 player in Missouri in the 247Sports Composite, and he signed with Iowa State in the 2024 class.Neal made a sack and forced a fumble as a true freshman in 2024. He moved into the starting lineup in 2025, starting 12 games, leading Iowa State with 40 solo tackles and adding 11 tackles for loss, two interceptions, against Arizona State and Kansas, and a forced fumble. He was named Big 12 defensive player of the week after eight tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss against Kansas State, made a season-high 12 tackles against BYU and was a third-team All-Big 12 pick. He made 33 run stops that season.
When Matt Campbell left Iowa State for Penn State, Neal followed him, committing in January 2026 as a four-star portal recruit with two years of eligibility remaining, and he said his family's trust in Campbell drove his decision. He said he would bring physicality and hard work to Penn State. He forced two fumbles in the 55-13 win over Buffalo, but Wisconsin hit two touchdowns against him in a 24-20 loss, and he played 11 snaps in the loss at Michigan on 17 October, his last logged game. He has 23 tackles in seven games for a 4-4 team.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Rare speed for a safety, with a top-tier forty
- Physical box safety with 33 run stops and 11 tackles for loss in 2025
- Forced two fumbles in the win over Buffalo this season
- Big 12 defensive player of the week and third-team All-Big 12 in 2025
- Two years of eligibility remaining, giving him room to develop
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Has allowed 11 catches on 12 targets and two touchdowns this season
- Missed 11 tackles in his first season as a starter in 2025
- Role has shrunk, with no logged snaps since 17 October
- Only one season as a starter before transferring
Scouting Report: Summary
Neal is a fast, physical safety who broke out as a run defender at Iowa State. He has rare speed for the position, and in 2025 he made 33 run stops and 11 tackles for loss, led Iowa State in solo tackles and intercepted two passes. He was the Big 12 defensive player of the week after his game against Kansas State and a third-team All-Big 12 pick, and he plays downhill with the force to finish ball carriers near the line.He followed Matt Campbell to Penn State in January as a four-star portal recruit, and he opened with steady play, forcing two fumbles in the 55-13 win over Buffalo. He has the closing speed to chase plays from the box, and his willingness to play physically fits the role Penn State brought him in to fill after losing Zakee Wheatley to the NFL. He has 23 tackles in seven games for a 4-4 team. He also played in each of Penn State's first six games, including the opener against Marshall.
However, his coverage has been a problem this season. He has allowed 11 catches on 12 targets for 134 yards, and Wisconsin hit two touchdowns against him in a 24-20 loss. His role has also shrunk, as he played 11 snaps at Michigan on 17 October and has no logged snaps since, without a reported reason. He missed 11 tackles in 2025, and he has only one season as a starter.
Overall, Neal is a fast, physical box safety whose run defense and speed give him a clear NFL role, but his coverage needs significant work. He projects as a fifth-round safety with the ceiling of a starting strong safety and the floor of a core special teams player. With two years of eligibility remaining, he could also return to college to develop before entering the draft. His speed and physical style also make him a natural fit on coverage units.
How other scouting services rate Marcus Neal Jr. (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
119.3
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
31.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.