Kerry Neal Class: Sophomore Hometown: Bunn, NC High School: Bunn Height / Weight: 6-2 / 246 Position: Outside Linebacker Birthdate: 08/30/1988

CAREER: Very promising young player played in all 12 games during his first season and started five games at outside linebacker for the Irish ... recorded 20 tackles with two sacks and two tackles for loss ... added two fumble recoveries and three pass breakups ... one of eight freshmen to start in 2007 and one of three freshmen to start on defense (also Brian Smith and Ian Williams) ... rated the No. 49 inside linebacker in the country by Phil Steele for `08.

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 ... full name is Kerry L. Neal ... enrolled in First Year of Studies.