Isaiah Neal
Isaiah Neal
Wins his gap play after play. Second year in the Pittsburgh defensive front, same address the whole way. The receipt on tape: 6 tackles, 1.5 TFL against Miami, Week 14, 2025.
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- positional archetype classification
- seasons on the roster
- game log
Career Arc
2025 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
Splits & context
Supporting Cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Pat Narduzzi
Awards
Player Standing · 17 rungs
Tier 2 · StarterR06 · Starter
Starter. Tackle volume for the position at a full-time starter's level.
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Pittsburgh | 36 | 18 | 7.0 | 3.5 | 1 | -- | -- |
| 2024 | Pittsburgh | 21 | 4 | 3.0 | 1.5 | 1 | -- | -- |
| Career | 57 | 22 | 10.0 | 5.0 | 2 | -- | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 13 · 2025
W 42–28
at Georgia Tech
1 TOT
Edged out Georgia Tech on the road in a shootout.
How he plays
Play style
Stout at the point of attack — steady tackle-for-loss production without a standout pass-rush number.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
Pittsburgh
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Defensive line · Pittsburgh
Returning around him
- 1 Pittsburgh player drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: -5 net (16 in / 21 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Pittsburgh · Last season: 8-5 (AP #24) · Talent rank #56 · 2026 recruiting class #44
DNA match
Player DNA
Two-Gap Base
Stout at the point of attack — steady tackle-for-loss production without a standout pass-rush number.
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Kristopher Ross’s 2024 season.
Matches Kristopher on
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a sophomore, his production profile tracks closest to Kristopher Ross's sophomore season at Nevada (2024).
Matches Kristopher on
Differs from Kristopher on
Background
2025: played in all 13 games for the second consecutive year and posted a career-high nine starts…due to injuries along the defensive line, transitioned from defensive tackle to defensive end during the regular season…had career highs in tackles (36), tackles for loss (seven), and sacks (3.5)…add...