A new month, a fresh start, and a whole new chapter for Colby Neal! On February 4, she announced that she would be joining the Sun Devil Volleyball team for the 2025 season and moving from Oregon. Standing tall at 6’4″, she’s bringing some serious firepower to the middle blocker lineup, along with Zoey Burgess, Ella Lomigora, and Jadyn Wilgus. And let’s just say, head coach JJ Van Niel didn’t need much convincing—“Colby was a no-brainer for us,” he said. She has played 68 matches and has 229 blocks and 237 kills, which simply speaks volumes about her.
From stuffing the net with a record of nine blocks in 2023 to smashing the floor with 13 kills in 2024, Colby has proved herself. But let’s face it–entering a new team means that there are certain expectations, and for Colby, there is additional pressure. Why? Well, the name Neal has some athletic background with her father, Stephen Neal, who played for the NFL and was a wrestler. So, who exactly is he? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
Who is Colby Neal’s father?
Colby Neal’s athletic roots run deep, thanks to her dad, Stephen Neal—a man who took an unreal path to greatness. To most, he is the talented and tenacious guard who played for the New England Patriots and won three Super Bowls (2002, 2004, 2005). But here is the kicker—he never played college football! Instead, he established himself as a wrestler and an extraordinary one at that before a surprising transition to the NFL.
Ten seasons, three rings, and a legendary run with Tom Brady? Not bad for a guy who used to pin his opponents rather than block the defenders. Neal was an excellent wrestler before he joined the football team. At San Diego High, he was an outstanding performer at the California state tournament, but that was not where he really shined through; this he did at California State University, Bakersfield. He quickly rose through the ranks, finishing fourth at the NCAA Championships as a freshman.
In his junior year, he went to the competition and performed excellently by scoring 20-5 to clinch the NCAA title, this was the second time in history that any wrestler had scored 20 points in a championship match. His senior season? Even better. Undefeated. Another NCAA title. A jaw-dropping 153-9 career record. He then moved to the international platform to claim the title of U.S. He competed in the Open, Pan Am Games, and the World Championship in 1999, winning the title of world’s best wrestler.
Then came the biggest plot twist. After narrowly missing out on the 2000 Olympics, Neal switched tracks and jumped into professional football. Fast forward, and he was doing great in the NFL, playing for the Patriots as an anchor of the O-line and protecting Brady to championships. His next-level success in two completely different sports earned him a well-deserved spot in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. A wrestling champ turned Super Bowl legend? Yeah, Colby Neal’s got some serious athletic DNA! But it doesn’t end here! The Neal family has got more star power to it!
Athletic Neal family has another star!
The Neal family athletic streak just keeps rolling, and Colby Neal’s younger sister, Jillian Neal, is making sure she adds her own chapter to the legacy. Back in June 2023, the San Diego powerhouse took her talents to Sun Devil Volleyball as a fresh-faced freshman outside hitter. Fast forward, and in just her sophomore season, she’s already making waves.
In the 2024 season, Jillian has only missed one match during the season and has taken on the role of a serving specialist. And when it comes to aces, she is not only leading the team but scoring a deadly 36 among them. But she is not just slaying it from the service line—she is slaying it in all respects and keeping the scoreboard alive. Her performance in the classroom is just as impressive as in the field, which is why she was on the 2024 Fall Academic All-Big 12 Team.
The Neal name might come with high expectations, but trust us—Jillian and Colby Neal are not just living up to them, they are setting ablaze their own trails respectively and having a lot of fun while doing so!
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