Before the Louisville football team faces SMU in Week 6, they experienced a significant setback with the departure of a key defender. Safety D Neal has entered the transfer portal, as reported by On3.com, which comes as a surprise given his contributions during the 2023 season.
Neal led the Cardinals with four interceptions and ranked second on the team with 74 tackles, including three for loss. His performance earned him Third Team All-ACC honors.
Despite this, Louisville has players poised to step up, including redshirt senior MJ Griffin, who returns after missing the previous season due to a torn ACL. Griffin had played in all 13 games in 2022, recording 45 tackles and two interceptions.
As Louisville prepares to take on SMU, they will be missing one of their most experienced players. Neal, who transferred from Baylor after three seasons, played only 10 snaps in the Week 5 loss to Notre Dame.
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He was a significant part of Baylor’s defensive lineup in 2021-22, contributing to the team’s 12-2 record and a spot in the Armed Forces Bowl.
While Neal’s statistics reflect solid performance, the emergence of other defensive backs and recent transfers may have influenced his decision to leave. Given his limited playing time, it’s understandable why he might seek new opportunities.
Louisville, currently 3-1 with a conference win over Georgia Tech, now faces the challenge of adapting to Neal’s absence as they prepare for a crucial matchup against an explosive SMU offense. It will be interesting to see how the defense adjusts without their veteran safety on the field.
