Julian Neal does not recall ever making it inside Candlestick Park.
But from his home on Osceola Lane in San Francisco, he could see the concrete edifice, which stood as the home of the 49ers from 1971 to 2013
“Since I was a kid, growing up in Bayview/Hunters Point, being able to see the old stadium from my window, seeing the fireworks and saying to myself, ‘That’s somewhere I want to be someday,’ ” Neal said.
Neal is a highly regarded cornerback who finished his college career at Arkansas after four years at Fresno State.
He was among the most prominent draft prospects to attend the 49ers’ local pro day on Wednesday at the team’s Santa Clara practice facility.
Neal (6-foot-2, 203 pounds) is a competitive, aggressive player who led Arkansas with 12 passes defended and two interceptions last season.
He is projected to be a mid-round selection, and could be in the mix for any of the 49ers’ four picks within the fourth round.
Neal was asked what expectations he has for the 2026 NFL Draft.
“Hear my name called, get drafted, hopefully by the Niners, so I can stay in the city,” he answered. “I’m not opposed to going anywhere else. I’m just grateful for the opportunity to hear my name called.”
Neal was a month shy of his 10th birthday when the 49ers played their final game at Candlestick.
But it was still special for him on Wednesday to work out in the shadow of Levi’s Stadium just two weeks before the draft. After all, he wore No. 80 in youth football because of his admiration of Jerry Rice.
Neal overcame tremendous odds to even receive a scholarship offer from Fresno State out of Mission High School. He became the first product of the San Francisco public school system to sign an FBS national letter of intent since Galileo defensive lineman Kyle Morgan (Miami) in 2001.
“It means everything because I was able to open that door for the future kids who want to do what I did,” Neal said. “I want to be an outlet for the kids in my city to be able to reach out because I didn’t know anybody who was going through this process personally when I was growing up.
“I want to be that person that kids can look up to and be personal with. I want the kids to be able to feel me, ‘OK, he’s real.’ ”
The private institutions of Archbishop Riordan, Sacred Heart Prep and St. Ignatius generally devote more resources to their athletic programs. Neal said the public schools do not take it as seriously, as their equipment and facilities are lacking.
He wants to do his part to help change the perception and attitudes. Neal aims to continue as a role model, beginning with a camp for his youth team, Brown Bombers, in Bayview/Hunters Point.
“When I was in high school and I got my first Division I scholarship offer, I was told, ‘There’s no way that’s real, people from around here don’t get that.’ ”
His father, Emmett, a pastor at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, kept Julian motivated and never allowed doubt to creep into his mind.
“I know how to do it, that anything is possible,” Neal said. “I listen to my dad. My dad tells me every day, since I was a kid, ‘You’re going to do it, Ju. Just keep going.’ That’s my motto, ‘Just keep going.’ ”
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