Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Bishop Neal, DB, Saint Francis University

Every year, NFL Draft Diamonds brings our readers the best in depth interviews on the internet. We specialize in giving players an opportunity to showcase their talents on our website. We conducted interviews last year with over 300 plus players. We want you to enjoy our interviews, because when these young men are in the league, we will not be surprised, and neither should you. 

What is your name?

Bishop Neal

What is your Height/Weight?

5’10/205

What is your position?

Safety 

Where do you play college football?

Saint Francis University 

How many teams were recruiting you out of high school?

Not too many. I was a bit undersized coming out of high school. 

How did you choose your school?

Saint Francis was the only division 1AA school that gave me a shot. I had to take it and run with it. 

Where are you from?

Clairton, Pa

Who is your role model, and why?

Sean Taylor, he made the opposing players fear his presences. That’s my goal every time I step on the field, get the other team to fear me. 

Have any scouts met with you yet, and if so what are they saying?

Yes, a few. They just told me to to run at least a 4.5 and they’ll give me a shot.

Did you play any other sports growing up?

Baseball

Did you play any other positions in football?

I played pretty much every position on the defensive side of the ball. 

At your position, what separates you from others?

My brain, I like to think that I have a very high football IQ. 

When you are breaking down film, what do you look for?

Tendencies, alignments and spacing are huge for offenses. For example, with me understanding why the opposing player is inside or outside of the hashes puts me at a huge advantage. 

Who was the toughest player you ever faced?

Terrance West

If you could compare your play to one player in the NFL who would it be and why?

Bob Sanders in his prime because he wasn’t the biggest guy, but he had the heart of a lion. He hit people like he was 6’4 240. I think I bring the same mentality and explosiveness. 

What was the biggest obstacle in your life you had to overcome, and how did you overcome it?

I would one of the biggest obstacles in my life was losing only 4 games during my entire high school career to winning only 1 game my freshman year of college. I felt like the culture of Saint Francis was completely backwards. The lack of passion for the game of football here was very discouraging. I contemplated transferring almost every day. But I stuck with it and began to try to encourage and change the way people thought about football here at Saint Francis. I believe that I had a major impact on leading the program into what it is becoming. I see great things happening in the near future of the Saint Francis football program.

Do you have any pre-game rituals?

I have to go through my workout with the agility ladder.

What is your biggest strength?

My explosiveness

What is your biggest weakness?

Being too aggressive sometimes

If I were a GM and gave you a second to sell yourself, what would you say?

If you want someone that’s going to give his all to be the best player on and off the field, I’m your guy.

Who was your favorite player and NFL team growing up?

Sean Taylor and the Redskins

If you could have dinner with three people dead or alive, who would you choose?

Nas, Tupac, and John Lennon.