2022 NFL Draft recruiting rewind: Alabama's Evan Neal to New York Giants

Evan Neal was billed as a 'can't miss' offensive tackle

Coming out of IMG Academy (Florida) in the 2019 recruiting cycle, Evan Neal was a hulking 6-foot-7 1/2, 360-pound offensive line prospect.

Although he bounced around the Alabama offensive line out of necessity in college, he didn't disappoint. 

Neal was selected No. 7 overall by the New York Giants, who snagged a pair of former five-star recruits in the top seven picks (Oregon defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux, No. 5 overall). 

Here's how the major recruiting services viewed him as a high school prospect: 

247Sports

Ranking: 5-star prospect; Nation's No. 32 overall prospect, No. 4 offensive tackle, No. 4 prospect in Florida 

Notable: Rated the nation's No. 4 offensive tackle, Neal was two spots behind Mississippi State star and fellow NFL first-round draft pick Charles Cross. 

Rivals

Ranking:5-star prospect; Nation's No. 8 overall prospect, No. 1 offensive tackle

Notable: In a class that boasted Cross, Texas A&M's Kenyon Green, and UCLA' Sean Rhyan, Rivals got it right with Neal being a truly elite prospect among the group. 

Neal and Cross were both very highly rated by Rivals. 

ESPN

Ranking: 5-star prospect, Nation's No. 4 overall prospect, No. 2 offensive tackle 

Notable: Neal was No. 2 behind Green, who could be a first-round pick at guard this year. 

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