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Louisville Defensive Back Transfer Devin Neal Commits to Virginia

Aidan Baller

Jeff Faughender/Courier Journal and USA Today Network / USA TODAY NETWORK
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The Virgina Cavaliers have landed their first defensive player in the transfer portal, Devin Neal, a former Louisville defensive back. Neal visited Virginia over the weekend before announcing his commitment to play for the Cavaliers in 2025 on Sunday as reported first by On3’s Pete Nakos.

Neal joins the Hoos with one year of eligibility after redshirting in 2024. 

In 2023, Neal was a standout for the Cardinals, recording 74 tackles (second on the team), four interceptions (most on the team) and six pass deflections (second on the team). The breakout year earned Neal a Third-Team All-ACC selection in 2023. 

The Lexington, Kentucky native was relatively underrecruited coming out of high school, holding offers from Baylor, Cincinnati, Bowling Green, and Eastern Michigan. Neal played his first three seasons of college football at Baylor before transferring to Louisville for his last two. Neal was shifted out of the rotation in 2024 due to a crowded secondary room, a possible reason for his transfer. In five seasons of college football, Neal has played in 51 total games, including 33 games at Baylor and 18 at Louisville, recording 149 total tackles, 101 solo stops five tackles for loss, six interceptions, seven passes defended, two forced fumbles and a sack.

Neal did not play for Louisville in the game against Virginia this season, but he had an incredible game for the Cardinals when he faced the Cavaliers in 2023, recording 11 tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery to lead Louisville to a comeback win over UVA.

Neal provides the Cavaliers with a significant uplift in their defensive backroom after the losses of Jonas Sanker, Corey Thomas, Kempton Shine, and Kendren Smith. Neal will join Ethan Minter, Dre Walker, Jam Jackson, Caleb Hardy, and potentially Antonio Clary if he decides to return for a seventh season in Charlottesville. 

The safeties are a massive part of John Rudzinski’s defenses, and the signing of Neal significantly improves that unit headed into 2025. Particularly if Clary opts to return for another season, Virginia could have the back end of its defensive unit buoyed by two of the most experienced players in college football with a safety tandem of Devin Neal and Antonio Clary.

Neal is the second player to commit to Virginia in the current transfer portal cycle, joining quarterback Daniel Kaelin, who transferred to UVA after spending one season in Nebraska. Read more on Kaelin here: Virginia Football Lands Nebraska Quarterback Transfer Daniel Kaelin

Keep track of all of UVA's transfer portal activity, including outgoing and incoming transfers here: Virginia Football Transfer Portal Tracker

Stay up to date on all of the transfers who have received offers from Virginia or who have scheduled visits to UVA here: Tracking UVA Football's Offers and Visits in the Transfer Portal

More Virginia Football News

Virginia Football Lands Nebraska Quarterback Transfer Daniel Kaelin

Former UVA Quarterback Anthony Colandrea Taking Visit to ACC School

UVA Football Hosting Several Defensive Transfers for Visits

Virginia Scheduled to Host Multiple Offensive Line Transfers for Visits

10 Potential Quarterback Targets for UVA Football in Transfer Portal

UVA Football: Multiple Players Enter Portal on First Day of Transfer Window

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Aidan Baller
AIDAN BALLER

Aidan has been writing for Virginia Cavaliers On SI since January of 2023 and covers UVA football, basketball, men's soccer, and men's lacrosse. He is from New York and is currently in his fourth year at the University of Virginia, enrolled in the M.S. in Accounting program.