Valeria Tokun Haga 
TJ Neal is an education redshirt junior from Wichita, Kansas, and a defensive back player for the UTRGV Football Team. Neal put up 11 tackles against Southeastern Louisiana University.
Q: What is a fun fact about yourself?
A: “I went to Jamaica over the summer for a honeymoon.”
Q: Who or what got you started in football?
A: “My older brother played when I was younger, and I looked up to him. Even after he stopped playing, I fell in love with the game. Watching NFL players also drives me and keeps me motivated every day.”
Q: Who has been your biggest inspiration or role model?
A: I would have to say there’s quite a few of men in my life who have been just monumental in teaching me, you know, not only help me get better at football, but also teaching me things that make me better as a man. Is Russ Wells from my high school head coach Ted Tafoya. There’s a whole bunch of other men who have been active in my life and shaping who I am today.
Q: Who is your favorite football player?
A: “Oh, let’s see. That’s a hard one. That’s a hard.
My favorite football player is Charles Woodson.
Charles Woodson used to play back in look back in the day a little bit.”
Q: How do you mentally prepare for a game?
A: “I wake up and start the day relaxed, listening to gospel and Christian music. I spend time reading my Bible and praying. When it’s game time, I switch to Christian rap for an upbeat tempo to get locked in.”
Q: Which shows or movies do you like to watch?
A: “I like watching ‘White Collar’ on Netflix and ‘How I Met Your Mother.’”
Q: Do you have any hobbies?
A: “I enjoy playing video games, outdoor activities, Bible study, playing board games and fishing.”
Q: What do you like most about UTRGV?
A: “I love the culture and community being established here. The support is unmatched, and the coaches push us to become better players and better men every day.”
Q: What are your biggest goals?
A: “My biggest goal is just to make sure I’m going to give it 100% effort every day to where I’m satisfied with my outcome of the day and then just be the best husband teammate.
I can be and the all the end goal is, you know, hopefully making it to the NFL once it’s all said and done.”
“My goal is to give 100% effort every day, be the best teammate I can be, play in the NFL, and coach at the high school and collegiate levels.”
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