Iowa State Offensive Lineman James Neal III to Showcase Skills at 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl
AMES, Iowa – December 18, 2025 – Iowa State University offensive lineman James Neal III has accepted an invitation to compete in the prestigious 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl. The annual all-star game, a key event for NFL draft hopefuls, will be held on January 27th at the Ford Center at the Star in Frisco, texas.
Neal, a standout left tackle for the Cyclones, concluded a successful 2025 season as a consistent starter. His performance was instrumental in Iowa State achieving an 8-4 record. The Grayson, Georgia native started all 12 games at left tackle, demonstrating his reliability and skill throughout the campaign.
Beyond individual accolades, Neal’s contributions were vital to the Cyclones’ rushing attack. Iowa State averaged an extraordinary 4.4 yards per carry, benefiting from Neal’s ability to create running lanes. Running backs Carson Hansen and abu Sama both enjoyed productive seasons, with Hansen rushing for 952 yards and six touchdowns, and Sama contributing 732 yards and five touchdowns respectively. [1]
Neal’s journey to becoming a key player for the Cyclones began at Independence Community College, where he played his freshman season before transferring to Iowa State. Throughout his collegiate career, he appeared in 41 games and earned 32 starts, showcasing his durability and consistent performance.[2]
The East-West Shrine Bowl provides a valuable platform for NFL scouts to evaluate top college players. Neal’s participation offers a critically important opportunity to demonstrate his abilities and pursue a professional football career.
Sources:
1]Iowa State Athletics.(2025). 2025 Football Statistics.[https://cyclonescom/sports/football/stats[https://cyclonescom/sports/football/stats (Example Link – Replace with actual link when available)
Iowa State Football, East-West Shrine bowl, NFL Draft, Offensive Lineman, College Football, Carson Hansen, Abu Sama, Frisco Texas, Iowa State Cyclones, James Neal III NFL, College Football All-Star game.
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