Neal selected by Seattle in 3rd round of NFL Draft

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas defensive back Julian Neal became the first Razorback to hear his name called in the NFL Draft on Friday night when the Seattle Seahawks selected him with the 99th overall pick in the third round.

Neal is the first Arkansas defensive back to be drafted since Montaric Brown in 2022 when he was selected by Jacksonville in the seventh round. The Seahawks picked a Razorback for the first time in a decade when they tabbed the late RB Alex Collins in the fifth round of the 2016 draft. Neal’s selection in the third round makes it consecutive years a Hog has been called after Isaac TeSlaa (Detroit) and Landon Jackson (Buffalo) were third-round picks last year.

In his lone season on The Hill, Neal started all 12 games while making 55 tackles and intercepting a pair of passes. He quickly impacted the Razorbacks’ secondary in the team’s second game of the season with 11 tackles, one interception and a pair of pass breakups to become the first Arkansas defensive back since 1997 with 11+ tackles, 1+ interceptions and 2+ pass breakups.

Neal began his career at Fresno State, where he played four seasons. His final season in 2024, the San Francisco native played in all 12 games, including four starts, making 35 tackles with five tackles for loss and two interceptions.

For his career, he recorded 99 tackles with 8.5 tackles for loss and four interceptions across 42 games.

The NFL Draft’s final day, featuring rounds 4-7, begins tomorrow at 11 a.m. on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and NFL Network.