SmashMouth

It isn't uncommon for players who have gone through the NFL Scouting Combine to offer advice to the inexperienced.

The encouragement usually comes from former teammates and coaches, but Jacksonville State safety Siran Neal also received support from out of the blue.

Neal was relaxing one day when he received notification on his phone of a new follower on Instagram. When Neal looked down at his phone, he immediately recognized it was New Orleans Saints cornerback Ken Crawley.



"I was just sitting there chilling on my phone and I got a notification of him following me," Neal said. "I was like, 'OK, that's the dude with the Saints.'"

Neal said Crawley took the connection a step further when the Saints cornerback sent a direct message to provide words of wisdom on what to expect at the Combine.

Crawley's kind act didn't go unappreciated.

"It meant a lot," Neal said with a smile. "The next thing you know, the DM, he chopped it up and told me about everything. I was like, 'Wow, that's really an eye-opener to let me know what I need to do to get there.' He helped out in the process."

Neal finished his college career with 191 tackles (112 solo), an interception, a half sack, 12 passes defensed and a forced fumble.

He understands there is a lot to prove at the Combine when considering his small school roots in Alabama, and Neal has heard the doubt on his potential at the next level.

Instead of getting frustrated by naysayers, Neal embraces the challenge.

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