2022 NFL Draft Prospects to Watch: Alabama vs. Florida

Two 2022 NFL Draft prospect-laden, undefeated SEC teams face off in a crucial September showdown that could have long-lasting effects on the conference championship race.

This game between Alabama and Florida could have long-range and far-reaching consequences in the SEC championship picture, depending on what happens here. It will also have many teams interested as it pertains to the 2022 NFL Draft.

#1 Alabama at #11 Florida 3:30 ET CBS

The Crimson Tide have looked as great as they ever have, blowing out their first two opponents and averaging 46 points per game.

They’ll be 14.5-point favorites in Gainesville against the Gators who are coming off of blowout wins over Florida Atlantic and South Florida and averaging 38.5 points per game. Vegas has the over/under at 58.5 points and the only way this goes game goes under is if Alabama stifles Florida’s offense completely, and that can’t be ruled out.

There will be multiple 2022 NFL Draft prospects on both teams, but we’ll highlight one from each school here.

Alabama OT Evan Neal

To call Evan Neal a freak seems like an understatement. He’s 6’7” 350 pounds and can do a 48-inch box jump. College football writer Bruce Feldman writes a list of “freaks” in college football each year, and for 2021, he placed Neal at the top of the list.

In addition to the size and box jumps, Evan Neal registered a sprint speed of 18.5 miles per hour. He can bench press 475 pounds and squats 650 pounds.

Neal’s not only large and agile, but he has exceptional lower body and core strength as well. These attributes are crucial for offensive tackles as they need to play with good leverage when trying to pass protect and when getting after defenders in the run game.

If that’s not enough, Evan Neal is flexible too, which will serve him well when trying to stop NFL pass rushers from getting around him to the quarterback. The physical tools alone would likely secure Neal a spot in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, but his head coach Nick Saban had some kind words to say about his hulking lineman. According to Saban, Evan Neal has “good intangibles,” is a “hard worker,” and “spent a lot of time getting his body right.”

Evan Neal made the AP’s preseason All-American team and is on the watch lists for the Lombardi and Outland trophies. Alabama’s coaching staff tabbed him as the offensive player of the week in the Tide’s drubbing of Mercer, and by the end of the year, the behemoth at left tackle may bring home some more awards and hardware both for himself and his team before his career in Tuscaloosa is through.

Come next year, Evan Neal will almost surely hear his name called in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft.