Sports
Sports

Falcons’ Keanu Neal has highest overall rankings among rookie safeties

Keanu Neal #22 of the Atlanta Falcons forces Willie Snead #83 of the New Orleans Saints to fumble during the second half at the Georgia Dome on January 1, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Keanu Neal #22 of the Atlanta Falcons forces Willie Snead #83 of the New Orleans Saints to fumble during the second half at the Georgia Dome on January 1, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
By Juliakate E Culpepper
July 24, 2017

Atlanta Falcons safety Keanu Neal had the highest overall grade among rookie safeties last season.

Neal finished his first season in the NFL with a 79.5 rating, according to Pro Football Focus.

Neal ranked above Tennessee Titans' Kevin Byard (78.9), New York Giants' Andrew Adams (78.8) and Oakland Raiders Karl Joseph (75.5).

Neal finished his rookie season with 106 tackles, five forced fumbles and eight deflected passes.

About the Author

Juliakate E Culpepper
More Stories

Keep Reading

Georgia State coach Jonas Hayes will lead his team in an exhibition against UGA on Wednesday, alongside his brother Jarvis. The Hayes brothers both played for UGA. (Courtesy of Daniel Wilson)

Credit: Daniel Wilson

For Hayes brothers, Georgia State-UGA exhibition a full-circle moment

Georgia State basketball coach Jonas Hayes and brother Jarvis, both former UGA players, will host the Bulldogs in an exhibition in Atlanta on Wednesday.

Four-game winning streak sparks bowl dreams for Kennesaw State

KSU won only two games last year and was picked to finish last in Conference USA, but the climate has definitely changed.

New venues. New teams. Savannah Bananas launch plans for ‘really big year.’

The Savannah Bananas announced an expansion of Banana Ball, including two new teams, in unveiling their 2026 barnstorming baseball schedule.

The Latest

Hey, let us see!

Credit: AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker

The Win Column: Behind the replay

Atlanta TV sports listings

Four-game winning streak sparks bowl dreams for Kennesaw State

Featured

Mathew Palmer, a former Delta Air Lines employee, at his home in Atlanta on Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025. Palmer was fired less than two weeks after writing a post on social media about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. (Natrice Miller/AJC)
EXCLUSIVE

Delta flight attendant fired for Kirk-related social post speaks out

Mathew Palmer, a Delta flight attendant, was suspended by the airline the day after writing a Facebook post about conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination.

Marjorie Taylor Greene’s voters are sticking with her through her political evolution

Congresswoman Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s supporters are sticking with her even as she splits from Republican Party leadership

Truck driver arrested after 8th victim found in wreckage of I-85 crash

A tractor-trailer struck the back of a Dodge van, causing the van to go up in flames. The crash involved 6 vehicles, one of which was a van transporting 37 cats to a shelter.