With The First Pick
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10 sleeper prospects who could become high draft picks in 2020 NFL Draft

By Nicholas Perlich

STATE COLLEGE, PA - OCTOBER 13: Yetur Gross-Matos #99 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates against Brian Lewerke #14 of the Michigan State Spartans on October 13, 2018 at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA - OCTOBER 13: Yetur Gross-Matos #99 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates against Brian Lewerke #14 of the Michigan State Spartans on October 13, 2018 at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /
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EVANSTON, IL – NOVEMBER 11: Lorenzo Neal #9 of the Purdue Boilermakers moves in to make a tackle attempt on Justin Jackson #21 of the Northwestern Wildcats at Ryan Field on November 11, 2017 in Evanston, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
EVANSTON, IL – NOVEMBER 11: Lorenzo Neal #9 of the Purdue Boilermakers moves in to make a tackle attempt on Justin Jackson #21 of the Northwestern Wildcats at Ryan Field on November 11, 2017 in Evanston, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Defensive Line: Lorenzo Neal, Jr., Purdue

Lorenzo Neal already has a leg up on most of the draft class considering he has the kind of bloodlines that the NFL definitely takes into consideration. His father, Lorenzo Neal, was an excellent fullback for the Chargers who opened holes for the great LaDainian Tomlinson.

Despite that fact, the younger Neal was only a 3-star recruit and not heavily pursued out of high school. In fact, Purdue was by far the biggest and most accomplished school to offer him a scholarship.

Neal did not play much as a true freshman, only appearing in 4 games that year. But he has developed each year since and has become a steady force for the Boilermakers defense. He has excellent size with a short, powerful, stocky build at 6-2 and 315 pounds. He’s light on his feet and a quick mover. He’s shown the ability to penetrate gaps as well as eat up blocks and double teams. And he hasn’t even unlocked his full potential yet.

Neal has a chance to develop into a dominant player this season. If that happens, it wouldn’t surprise me at all if he is a first-round draft pick.

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