Post-Spring Projection: Kerry Neal

On the day that Kerry Neal gave his verbal commitment to Notre Dame – he was the first player in the 2007 signing class to do so – Charlie Weis had been up early watching film of the North Carolina native and immediately called Bunn High School to offer Neal a scholarship.

At the time, hardly a soul had heard of the young pass-rush specialist, but it didn’t take long for people to see why Weis was so eager to get Neal on his team.

The 6-foot-2, 240-pounder wasted little time in making an impact on the Irish defense, playing in all 12 games of his freshman campaign and starting in five. Neal finished the 2007 season with 20 tackles, two sacks, two fumble recoveries and three pass breakups.

He also leapt ahead of more established players on the depth chart (perhaps part of the reason that a bulked-up Morrice Richardson was working at defensive end in the spring), joining classmate Brian Smith as Notre Dame finished the year with a pair of freshman starters at outside linebacker.

Both head into their second season expected to stick with the No. 1 defense, but while Smith may or may not end up moving to inside linebacker, Neal appears to have found his niche on the outside, where he hopes to provide the Irish with the quarterback-seeking missile they lacked a year ago.

He also could be one of the swingmen in a defense that is likely to show as many 4-3 looks as 3-4 in 2008 – while Smith practiced strictly with the linebackers during the spring, Neal was often spotted working with the defensive linemen, a sign that there are also some plans to use the sophomore as an end when the team goes to a four-man front.

In those situations, Neal and Richardson could conceivably help Notre Dame attack the pocket from both sides when desired. New linebackers coach Jon Tenuta loves to bring heat – and Neal, perhaps more than any other player in the Irish front seven, gives him the speed off the edge to make those blitz-happy schemes effective.

What’s A Good Season?

In his rookie season, Neal did log five starts, but he still often found himself used mainly as a situational player, utilized primarily on passing downs. If he has developed as hoped, then he should be more of an every-down player in 2008. Besides, with Richardson and John Ryan having moved up to defensive end, there isn’t much experience behind Neal at outside linebacker – so his growth into a full-timer could prove necessary, whether he’s ready to make that leap or not.

That step in his evolution would lay the foundation for a solid year. To make it a good one, Neal would have to increase his production a bit, preferably coming up with about twice as many tackles and at least a couple more slow dances with opposing quarterbacks. Doubling his 2007 numbers, to 40 stops and four sacks or so, would probably be satisfactory – but if Neal is on the field every play, the ceiling may be even higher.

Two and a half years ago, no one knew who Neal was. He’s got a good chance to go from anonymity to household name this fall if he can further tap his seemingly boundless potential.