Aug. 19, 2016
By Charles Goldberg
AuburnTigers.com
AUBURN, Ala. - T.J. Neal is dealing with the heat, of an East Alabama summer after coming to Auburn from his home in McKeesport, Pa., of moving to what he says is a football spotlight after playing the last three years at the University of Illinois.
"It's been great getting a chance to come down here and play some big-time, prime-time football and play along with some great players and be coached by some great coaches," Neal says.
T.J. Neal is a graduate transfer who is game ready. He played in 37 at Illinois, starting 25 of them, and certainly his opportunity for more playing time has arrived at Auburn. The Tigers need a new set of linebackers after the departure of long-time starters Kris Frost, Cassanova McKinzy and Justin Garrett.
Neal says he doesn't brag about his experience, though he has started 22 more games than Auburn's next most experienced linebacker. He's instead opted to show his work on the field.
"I came here and humbled myself. I just wanted to work hard and gain the respect of others so I think it was a very smooth transition," he said.
"I'm still gaining the respect of others. I don't want to overstep by boundary. I want to slowly continue to work through the leadership role."
Neal said he chose Auburn for "the weather. The facilities, the coaches. It's great. They coach you very hard. There is a lot of great talent here. I think it's a great place - other than it being very hot every day."
Neal had 109 tackles last season, including 14 tackles for a loss, and had 98 tackles the year before that. He closed his Illinois career in style with a career-best 17 tackles against Northwestern. And he left the Illini as a three time All-Big Ten academic selection.
New linebacker coach Travis Williams says all of that counts.
"He's played a lot of football. He's a guy that is serious and really likes to perfect his craft and learn a lot of ball. He's a smart guy. He's a guy that we're really excited about," Williams said.
Neal's experience counts, even in the film room.
"I can break down film and break down formations and tell guys, 'This is the kind of plays you're going to get out of this formation,'" he said. "Once you see the formation, you can eliminate certain plays they can't run out of that formation."
Fellow linebacker Darrell Williams said he appreciates the insight.
"We would come in together and watch film during the summer and I would listen to him because he's an older guy. He would say 'you got to do this or that to help you out on reading the play.' He's been a big help in that way."
Neal said the linebackers' responsibility is more demanding than at Illinois.
"I think they put a lot more responsibility on the linebackers to tell everybody what to do," he said.
"I'm still getting comfortable with the terminology. It's not so much playing football, it's the verbiage of communicating to others what's going on. Being a linebacker, the quarterback of the defense, you have to know everybody's job. I'm fine with what I have to do, but I have to become more comfortable with what the guys do around me."
In any case, Williams makes it exciting.
"He's a very fiery guy. He's excited every day. He comes in every day with the same attitude - ready to work and get better," Neal said.
And then another hot East Alabama day is done.
"I can get through practice and make my plays and have fun at practice," Neal said. "After practice, I'm tired, exhausted. Right now, I'm ready to lay down and go to sleep."
Charles Goldberg is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: Follow @AUGoldMine