EN #58

Elias Neal

Linebacker · Marshall

Undrafted Marshall linebacker who fought his way onto the Rams roster from a two-star recruiting ranking.

Elias Neal went undrafted out of Marshall in 2024 but has stuck around the Rams organization, bouncing between the practice squad and active roster. A Memphis native who was a two-star recruit out of high school, he built his college resume through sheer volume of tackles across five seasons at Marshall.

★ 375 career tackles at Marshall (2019-2023)

★ Group of Five All-American, 2023

★ Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week, 2021

Path to the league

Neal attended White Station High School in Memphis, Tennessee, where he played running back and linebacker, and committed to Marshall as a two-star prospect. He went undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft and signed with the Rams as a free agent, making the initial 53-man roster before being waived and returning on the practice squad.

Career highlights

Across five seasons at Marshall (2019-2023), Neal amassed 375 tackles, 32.5 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, five interceptions and five fumble recoveries. He earned Conference USA defensive player of the week honors in 2021 after an 11-tackle, three-sack game against Navy, and closed his career as a Group of Five All-American and third-team All-Sun Belt selection in 2023.

2025 season recap

Neal spent the 2025 season working between the Rams' practice squad and active roster, earning standard elevations to the game-day roster in October and November as a depth inside linebacker. He did not carve out a significant defensive role, with his contributions coming primarily on special teams and as rotational depth.