Best New Orleans Saints Draft Choices From FBS Schools: Fresno St.

Who is the best player the New Orleans Saints ever drafted from the Fresno St. Bulldogs?

From May 1 until the start of the 2016 NFL season on September 11, we’re going to list the best players that the Saints ever drafted from all 128 FBS schools, as of 2015.

Of course, there are a number of schools, including Air Force, Appalachian St., Arizona, Army, Baylor, Boise St., Bowling Green, Buffalo, Central Florida, Central Michigan, East Carolina, FAU, FIU, and South Alabama, in which the Saints have never drafted a player.

Yesterday, we looked at the best player the Saints ever drafted from Florida St.

Today, we spotlight the best player the Saints ever drafted from Fresno St.

When it comes to selecting the best player the Saints ever drafted from Fresno St., the choice is limited to defensive lineman Tyeler Davison (2015) and fullback Lorenzo Neal (1993).

The pick is going to be Neal, a fullback, who played 4 years for the Saints, from 1993-1996.

A native of Hanford, California, Neal was selected by the Saints in the 4th round of the 1993 NFL Draft.

The 5-foot-11, 255-pound Neal played in 2 games as a rookie, both as a starter, rushing for 175 yards and one touchdown on 21 carries, before his season ended with an ankle injury.

Neal returned in 1994, appearing in all 16 games, including 7 starts, totaling 90 yards and one touchdown on 30 carries.

The 1995 and 1996 seasons saw Neal play in all 32 games, including 16 as a starter, rushing for a combined 61 yards on 26 attempts.

Neal left the Saints following the 1996 campaign, but his NFL career was far from over. Over the next 12 seasons, Neal played for the New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans, Cincinnati Bengals, San Diego Chargers, and Baltimore Ravens, before he retired following the 2008 season.

During that time, Neal became viewed as the best fullback in the NFL, appearing in four Pro Bowls.

In four seasons with the Saints, Neal played in 50 games, including 25 as a starter, compiling 326 yards and 3 touchdowns.

In 16 seasons in the NFL, Neal played in 239 games, with 131 starts, totaling 807 yards and 6 touchdowns, to go along with 199 receptions for 1,086 yards and 12 touchdowns.