New Orleans Saints Bring in Former Purdue DT Lorenzo Neal Jr.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Nearly two weeks after the end of the 2021 NFL Draft, former Purdue defensive tackle Lorenzo Neal Jr. is getting an opportunity. Neal was invited by the New Orleans Saints for the team's upcoming rookie orientation.
The team's rookie minicamp is scheduled between Friday and Sunday. Neal's father played the first four years of his 16-year NFL career with the Saints.
Others guys invited to rookie orientation
— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) May 14, 2021
FB Josh McMillan
LB Quinn Polling
OT Kyle Murphy
DT Lorenzo Neal
Former teammates Grant Hermanns and Tyler Coyle signed undrafted free agent deals after the draft. Rondale Moore and Derrick Barnes were selected on the second day of the NFL Draft on April 30.
After suffering an ACL injury in 2018, Neal missed the entirety of the 2019 season and decided to return to Purdue as a fifth-year senior. He recorded six tackles and two pass deflections in 10 games in 2020.
In four college seasons, Neal recorded 72 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, four sacks, five deflections, four forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
New Orleans currently has six defensive tackles on its roster and also brought in one undrafted free agent at the position. At 6-foot-3, 325 pound pounds, Neal will look to get into better shape and fight for a spot on an active roster or practice squad.
New Orleans Saints 2021 Undrafted Free Agents
Player | Position | School |
|---|---|---|
Trill Williams | Safety | Syracuse |
Dylan Soehner | Tight End | Iowa State |
Nolan Cooney | Punter | Syracuse |
Mike Brown | Offensive Lineman | West Virginina |
Stevie Scott III | Running Back | Indiana |
Shaq Smith | Linebacker | Marlyand |
Eric Burrell | Safety | Wisconsin |
Josiah Bronson | Defensive Tackle | Washington |
Bryce Thompson | Cornerback | Tennessee |
Alex Hoffman | Offensive Lineman | Carroll College |
Lawrence Woods | Cornerback | Truman State |
Stories Related to Purdue Football
- BOILERMAKERS SIGN FREE AGENT DEALS: Former Purdue offensive lineman Grant Hermanns signed with the New York Jets while safety Tyler Coyle inked with the Dallas Cowboys. CLICK HERE
- ESPN COLLEGE FOOTBALL POWER RANKINGS: ESPN ranked five Big Ten programs in its post-spring top-25 rankings list. CLICK HERE
- SAMFORD KICKER TRANSFERS TO PURDUE: Mitchell Fineran announced he would join the Purdue football team as a graduate transfer in 2021. He's made 34 field goals in his college career. CLICK HERE
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D.J. Fezler is a staff writer for BoilermakersCountry.com. Hailing from The Region, he is from Cedar Lake in Northwest Indiana and has spent the last two years covering Purdue football and basketball.