STRENGTHS - Nealy has an explosive first step off the ball that allows him to penetrate interior gaps when lined up inside. On pursuit plays he consistently beats reach blocks to his gap and puts himself in position to make plays. While he is not an elite athlete he is able to make plays against both the run and pass because of his non-stop motor.
WEAKNESSES - Nealy was listed at DT for Texas A&M but he lacks the natural bulk and strength to play the position full time at the next level. While he has a good first step he lacks the speed, QAB and hand usage to be a consistent finisher. If he doesn't win with first step quickness he struggles to get involved as his poor hand usage and combination of limited athleticism and strength prevent him from being able to consistently shed blockers at the POA.
SUMMARY - At first glance Spencer Nealy does not look like a viable NFL prospect because he is a tweener that lacks the bulk and strength to hold the POA inside and the speed and all around athleticism to play on the edge. However, he is a high-effort player that makes more plays than he should because of whistle-to-whistle competitiveness. The NFL has become a very specialized game, and if used correctly Nealy can become an effective rotational player that can play LDE on run downs and 3-technique on passing downs for a 43 defense. Before becoming a feasible backup option at the next level he will need to significantly improve his hand usage, as he struggles to keep blockers from locking onto his frame. Nealy is worth a flyer on day 3 as he has the competitiveness and first step quickness that NFL coaches love.