Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 59-14vs Miami (OH) | 3 | 2 | 1.0 | 1.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 3 tackles |
| Wk 2 | W 12-7vs UCF | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Total | 4 | 3 | 2.0 | 1.0 | — | 0 |
#2
Isaiah Neal
Senior defensive lineman for Pittsburgh. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′2″ · 250 lb · Washington, DC · St. Frances Academy (MD)
CFB Index 67 · #111 of 420 edge rushersLow confidenceReturning to Pittsburgh for 2026
CFB Index
A single number blending on-field production (an EPA-based value lane) with box-score output for this player's position.
0-100, scaled within each position's own cohort — not directly comparable across positions.
The numbers
1
sack · 2026
2 TFL · 4 tackles · 3 hurries
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 1 sacks, 1 TFL, 3 tackles, vs Miami (OH)
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
3 defensive lineman for Pittsburgh. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Pittsburgh in 2023.
Isaiah Neal
Wins his gap play after play. Third year in the Pittsburgh defensive front, same address the whole way. The receipt on tape: 3 tackles, 1 sacks against Miami (OH), Week 1, 2026.
4 TACKLES · 1 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- seasons on the roster
- game log
His career
He was on the field for 3 seasons. That is rarer than it sounds.
2023
- Signed with Pittsburgh3-star out of St. Frances Academy
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
Pittsburgh
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2024–2026
1 coach2024–2026
Pittsburgh
Played his entire career under Pat Narduzzi.
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
3 seasons under Pat Narduzzi, all balanced offenses — 17-11 over that span.
2024Pittsburgh7-6HC: Pat Narduzzi · Balanced
2025Pittsburgh8-5HC: Pat Narduzzi · Balanced
2026Pittsburgh2-0HC: Pat Narduzzi · Balanced
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
Medium confidenceBreakout
Elite: qb hurries (99th percentile). Strength: sacks (87th percentile). Concern: tackles (0th percentile).
Box-score production (6)
Percentiles are versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score production. There are no play-by-play efficiency bars here: CFBD's play-value model credits offensive players only, so no defensive EPA exists to rank.
Splits & context
Splits
Per-game splits
Through 2 games: 2.0 TKL/g, 1.0 TFL/g, 0.5 SACK/g, 0.0 PD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Pat Narduzzi
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2025
Starter
Tackle volume for the position at a full-time starter's level.
Recognition
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Production · CFB Index Score
67 · #111 of 420 edge rushers
Three-star recruit. Now #111 at the position.
2026 outlook
Outside shot for All-ACC
Based on 2025: #16 of 73 ACC DLs
How the All-ACC estimate is computed
22% estimated, 95% confidence interval 19–25%. Base rate measured from players who finished at a comparable rank in their conference and came back the next season. It is an estimate from a small sample, not a forecast of this player.
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Pittsburgh | 4 | 3 | 2.0 | 1.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| 2025 | Pittsburgh | 36 | 18 | 7.0 | 3.5 | 1 | -- | -- |
| 2024 | Pittsburgh | 21 | 4 | 3.0 | 1.5 | 1 | -- | -- |
| Career | 61 | 25 | 12.0 | 6.0 | 2 | -- | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 2 · 2026
W 12–7
vs UCF
1 TOT · 1 SOLO · 1 TFL
A wire-to-wire battle — won by 5 at home.
With G. Russo — 40 AVG · 3 IN 20 · 51 LONG · M. Heintschel — 212 yds · 0 TD · 0 INT · QBR 44.1 · 13 rush yds (7 car)
Game log
How he plays
Play style
Stout at the point of attack — steady tackle-for-loss production without a standout pass-rush number.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
Pittsburgh
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Defensive line · Pittsburgh
Returning around him
- 1 Pittsburgh player drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: -5 net (16 in / 21 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Pittsburgh · Last season: 8-5 (AP #24) · Talent rank #64 · 2026 recruiting class #44
DNA match
Player DNA
Two-Gap Base
Stout at the point of attack — steady tackle-for-loss production without a standout pass-rush number.
IDL
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Kristopher Ross’s 2024 season.
90%match
Matches Kristopher on
TFL rate
Height
Hurry rate
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a sophomore, his production profile tracks closest to Kristopher Ross's sophomore season at Nevada (2024).
83%match
Matches Kristopher on
TFL rate
Weight
Hurry rate
Differs from Kristopher on
Class year (lower)
Player DNA
Players who play like Isaiah Neal
Background
2025: played in all 13 games for the second consecutive year and posted a career-high nine starts…due to injuries along the defensive line, transitioned from defensive tackle to defensive end during the regular season…had career highs in tackles (36), tackles for loss (seven), and sacks (3.5)…add...
The defensive line · Pittsburgh
- #44Jimmy Scott7.5 tackles for loss · 2025
- #2Isaiah Neal7 tackles for loss · 2025
- #11Nick James6 tackles for loss · 2025
- #55Sean FitzSimmons3 tackles for loss · 2025
- #5Zach Crothers3 tackles for loss · 2025
14 more on the roster · Pittsburgh team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology