JACKSONVILLE –Siran Neal can add his name to a short list of Jacksonville State football greats.
 
The senior cornerback from Eufaula received an invitation to play in the 2018 Reese's Senior Bowl, becoming just the fourth player in school history to receive that honor. He would join Dieter Brock (1974), Jesse Baker (1979) and Sean Richardson (1994) as the only Gamecocks to play in college football's premier senior showcase event, which will take place on January 27 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile.
 
The game annually features the country's best senior collegiate football players and top NFL draft prospects on teams representing the North and South that are coached by the entire coaching staffs of two National Football League teams. It will be televised on the NFL Network.
 
The 6-foot-1 Neal is enjoying a solid senior season at a new position. He moved from the nickel position to cornerback in the spring and has started every game there for the No. 4 defense in FCS this season. The move came after he earned First Team All-OVC honors at nickel in 2016. He played safety for the Gamecocks prior to that.
 
His play at corner has garnered the attention of pro scouts in 2017, when he currently has 31 tackles. He has one interception this season, while leading the team with eight pass break ups and nine passes defended.
 
He plays a key role in a defense that is allowing an Ohio Valley Conference-best 251.4 yards per game that ranks JSU fourth in the nation. JSU also ranks second in the FCS in rushing defense (70.1 ypg), eighth in scoring defense (16.7 ppg), eighth in pass efficiency defense (102.35), 11th in tackles for a loss (8.1 pg) and 24th in passing yards allowed (181.3 ypg).
 
The second-ranked Gamecocks travel to Martin, Tenn., this weekend for a 2 p.m. game at UT Martin on Saturday. The OVC Game of the Week will be broadcast on ESPN3 and would award JSU its fourth-straight conference title if the Gamecocks win.