It’s been quite the journey for defensive back DeJuan Neal, and now he has another chance to make it in the NFL. Neal is signing with the Washington Commanders ahead of training camp, according to his agent Sean Stellato, per ESPN’s John Keim.
Neal attended Southern High School in Harwood, Maryland — about a half-an-hour drive to the Commanders’ home stadium, FedEx Field, in Landover, Maryland.
After playing at Division II’s Shepherd University, Neal went undrafted in 2019. He spent a cup of tea with Washington but was released that offseason. He ultimately landed in the XFL where he played for the New York Guardians. However, the league halted its season due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
This past spring, the 25-year old Neal played for the New Jersey Generals of the USFL.
Neal becomes just the second player signed by an NFL team from the USFL. Linebacker Christian Sam signed with the Dallas Cowboys last week.
Neal’s first stint with Washington lasted a week. There were too many notable players ahead of him on the cornerback depth chart, his first go-around. Josh Norman, Quinton Dunbar, Jimmy Moreland, Fabian Moreau, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Greg Stroman were just a few of the many ahead of Neal.
This go around he enters training camp, more experienced and with better odds of sticking. The Commanders have uncertainty at cornerback after William Jackson III, Kendall Fuller and Benjamin St-Juste.
