2015 Football Roster
Jersey Number 52
T.J. Neal
- Ht./Wt.:
- 6-1 / 235
- Position:
- LB
- Hometown:
- McKeeseport, Pa.
- High School:
- McKeeseport
2015 Junior
- All-Big Ten honorable mention by the coaches and media
- Started all 12 games at middle linebacker
- 109 tackles, 14.0 TFLs, 2.0 sacks, one PBU and two QB hurries on season
- Fifth in the Big Ten and 32nd in FBS in tackles per game (9.1)
- Second on the team in tackles (109) and TFLs (14.0)
- Five games with 10+ tackles
- Career-high 17 tackles in the season finale vs. Northwestern
- Ended the year having started 25 consecutive games
- Academic All-Big Ten
2014 Sophomore
- Started all 13 games, totaling 98 tackles, 6.5 TFLs, four PBUs, three hurries, one interception and one forced fumble on the season
- Ranked 18th in the Big Ten with 7.8 tackles per game
- Tied for the team lead with eight tackles against Penn State
- Recorded a career-high 12 tackles, including 2.5 TFLs, and forced the fumble that was returned for the game-winning TD against Minnesota
- Registered his first career interception at Nebraska
- Totaled a career-high seven solo tackles at Washington
- Academic All-Big Ten
2013 Redshirt Freshman
- Played in all 12 games
- Posted 38 tackles, 1.0 TFL and one QB hurry
- Recorded a career-high seven tackles against Ohio State
- Returned a kickoff 17 yards against Michigan State
- Notched his first career QB hurry and had four tackles at Nebraska
- Saw his first action at Illinois in the season-opener against SIU, recording three tackes, including two solos, and his first career TFL
- Academic All-Big Ten
2012 Freshman
- Redshirted the 2012 season
High School
- A three-star recruit by Scout.com and Rivals.com
- Ranked the No. 24 inside linebacker in the nation and the No. 16 player in Pennsylvania by Scout.com
- Ranked the No. 16 prospect in Pennsylvania by Rivals.com and the No. 28 prospect in the state by SuperPrep
- Pennsylvania Sports Writers Class 4A All-State team in 2011
- Also named to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Fabulous 22 team, the East Regional Fabulous 22 team and the All-Foothills Conference team at linebacker in 2011
- Also played fullback, rushing for 190 yards and four touchdowns on 27 carries (7.0 ypc) in 2011
Personal
- First name is Tyrone
- Son of Mia Piri and Tyrone Neal
- Born Dec. 18, 1993
- Majoring in sport management
Career Highs
Tackles: 17 vs. Northwestern, 11/28/15
Solos: 8 vs. Northwestern, 11/28/15
TFLs: 4.0 vs. Northwestern, 11/28/15
Sacks: 1.0, twice (last vs. Northwestern, 11/28/15)
QB Hurries: 1, seven times (last vs. Ohio State, 11/14/15)
Fumbles Forced: 1 vs. Minnesota, 10/25/14
PBUs: 1, five times (last at Iowa, 10/10/15)
Interception: 1 at Nebraska, 9/27/14
Interception Return Yards: 14 at Nebraska, 9/27/14
Illinois Football | Bret Bielema Press Conference 3/5/26
Thursday, March 05
Illinois Football | Bobby Hauck Introductory Press Conference 2/12/26
Thursday, February 12
Illinois Football | Bret Bielema Press Conference 2/4/26
Thursday, February 05
Illinois Football | Xavier Scott Return Announcement Press Conference Press Conference 1/21/26
Wednesday, January 21
