With Marshall signing several graduate transfer and junior college players in its 2020 recruiting class, linebackers whose names were thrown out included Brian Cavicante, Abraham Beauplan and Charlie Gray. During Saturday's 59-0 win over Eastern Kentucky, however, it was Neal who matched a team-high with eight tackles in his first career start to help lead the Thundering Herd defense in its shutout. For Neal, it was a chance to make a statement, and he took advantage. "It was no secret," Neal said. "Everybody reads articles. Everybody said that we were the question mark on defense coming back. I wasn't too worried about it because I had guys like Omari Cobb in front of me that I was able to sit down and watch. When I did come in, I got to come in when the tone was already set."Marshall head coach Doc Holliday said that Neal's ability to grow into a role behind Cobb last year was valuable as he made the transition to starting middle linebacker this season. "There's no question that him playing as a freshman has helped him," Holliday said. Neal said it was just about making the mental change from maintaining the tone that was set by Cobb and other linebackers to being the guy who sets the tone for the defense now. "That was the only change coming into this year," Neal said. "I tried not to put too much on myself - just know that coming in, we've got to set the tone and get it rolling." - Charleston Gazette