James Neal
Iowa State
Scouting Report

A basketball-convert-turned-offensive-lineman who oozes raw athleticism but is still catching up to the technical demands of the position after only six total years of football experience. Neal's movement skills are special — his OL coach at Iowa State called him the most athletic lineman he's ever coached — and when he's locked in on technique, the lateral quickness and bend show up in both pass sets and pulling reps. The problem is consistency: a 39.3 PFF overall grade in his first starting season (2023) tells you the technique lapses are real and frequent, even if the 2025 tape showed meaningful improvement. He's a developmental swing tackle / guard prospect whose ceiling is a zone-scheme starter if a patient coaching staff can harness the physical tools, but the floor is a camp body who never puts the technique together at NFL speed.

Strengths
Weaknesses
Pro ComparisonBobby Hart

Similar profile of a physically gifted, versatile offensive lineman whose athletic tools are obvious but whose technique and consistency issues create a wide outcome range. Like Hart, Neal is a developmental swing OL prospect who needs the right coaching staff to unlock his potential.

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