Kerry Neal Class: Junior Hometown: Bunn, NC High School: Bunn Height / Weight: 6-2 / 250 Position: Defensive End Birthdate: 08/30/1988

CAREER: One of four players from his class to have played in every game in his first two seasons (also Armando Allen, Golden Tate and Ian Williams) ... moves to defensive end in 2009 ... played in 25 games past two seasons and started 16 contests ... totaled 45 tackles including six tackles for loss and four sacks ... added two fumble recoveries, one interception and three pass breakups.

2008 (SOPHOMORE): Played in all 13 games for the Irish and started in 11 contests (did not start vs. Michigan State or Stanford) ... tallied 25 tackles including four tackles for a loss ... intercepted a pass and also recorded two sacks ... made his sixth career start and recorded three tackles (solo, two assists) in season opener vs. San Diego State ... also registered his first career interception against the Aztecs ... notched three tackles (solo, two assists), including a half-tackle for a loss vs. Michigan ... totaled four tackles (two solos, two assists) and recorded a sack against the Panthers ... registered a career-high five tackles (all assists) vs. Syracuse ... also tallied a quarterback hurry against the Orange ... tallied two tackles (both solo) in Hawai'i Bowl victory ... also recorded a sack for a seven-yard loss against the Warriors ... logged 248:48 of playing time with 47 special-teams appearances.

2007 (FRESHMAN): Appeared in all 12 games, starting five contests (Purdue, UCLA, Boston College, Duke and Stanford) ... totaled 20 tackles including two sacks, two tackles for loss and added two fumble recoveries and three pass break ups ... recorded the first tackle of his Notre Dame career against Penn State ... recorded his first multi-tackle game against Michigan State, notching two tackles, a sack, and a pass break up ... was given his first start of the season against Purdue ... started again the following week against UCLA ... recovered his first fumble of career against the Bruins ... saw meaningful minutes throughout the remainder of the season, recording multi-tackle games against Boston College, USC, Air Force, Duke and Stanford ... made 21 special-teams appearances and logged 146:07 of playing time.

HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: Rated 26th prep player nationally on ESPN 150 listing ... listed as 22nd best defensive end nationally by CSTV ... first-team North Carolina Class 2A all-state pick as defensive lineman by NCPreps.com ... rated among top 10 players in North Carolina and among top 20 weakside defensive ends nationally by Rivals.com ... played both defensive end and outside linebacker as senior at Bunn High School in Bunn, N.C. ... recorded 132 overall tackles, 30 tackles for loss, 17 sacks, four interceptions and forced 12 fumbles as senior in 2006 ... returned two interceptions for touchdowns as senior and also played some tight end on offense ... played cornerback as sophomore, then weakside defensive end/outside linebacker/tight end as a junior ... had 118 tackles, 15 sacks, 15 passes broken up and two interceptions as junior in '05 . . . caught 16 passes for 323 yards and six TDs as junior in '05 ... named conference player of the year on defense as junior in '05 ... rated 96th-best overall prospect in East on 2006 preseason basis by The Sporting News SchoolSports ... a starter at cornerback as a freshman in 2003 ... selected as the first 2006 Carolina Panthers Community Captain, based on his athletics and academic accomplishments as well as his work with special-needs students at Bunn High School and his mentoring of elementary students in the Bunn area ... played for North Carolina team in Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas against South Carolina prep stars ... forced one fumble that led to a field goal and recovered another in 23-16 North Carolina win in that contest ... made nine tackles and a sack to lead East team in MSL Sports' East Meets West all-star game in Orlando, Fla., in January 2007 ... played for Bunn coach David Howle ... born Aug. 30, 1988 ... son of Ruby Doris ... enrolled in College of Arts and Letters, majoring in sociology.

Neal's Career Statistics