Evan Neal and Caden Ellerbee. [Photo courtesy of Lindsey Ellerbee/Lake Okeechobee News]

NEW YORK- Okeechobee native Evan Neal will be returning to Florida to play football this upcoming NFL season.

Neal and the Giants are scheduled to face the Miami Dolphins on Oct. 8 in Miami. It will be the second time Neal will be playing professional football in his home state. Last year the Giants were in north Florida, securing a 23-17 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Giants open the season on Sunday Night Football at home against the Dallas Cowboys on Sept. 10 at 8:20 p.m. They’ll be in prime time again in their third game of the season when they travel to take on the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday Night Football on Sept. 21.

The Giants will host the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football on Dec. 11, and will be playing on Christmas Day when they travel to face division rival Philadelphia Eagles.

Last season the Giants finished with a 9-7 record, earning a ticket to the NFL playoffs. New York defeated the Minnesota Vikings 31-24 in the Wildcard round before falling to the Eagles in the divisional round.

The NFL Network reported that Neal has been working with former NFL All-Pro offensive tackle Willie Anderson this off season. Anderson helped Neal with his stance on the offensive line, working on helping him get out of his stance fluidly and explosively.

Neal also made a trip back to Okeechobee this summer, hosting a football camp for local youth.

Over 300 hundred people were in attendance at the camp. Neal brought a few fellow professional and college athletes to help him run the football drills, including former Brahman and Florida State Seminole Lonnie Pryor, former Pittsburgh Steeler Maurkice Pouncey, Neal’s All-Pro teammate in New York Andrew Thomas, and more.

The kids taking part in the camp were coached through football drills by the NFL-level talent, participated in a few races and a 7 on 7 tournament.

OUR 2023 SCHEDULE-  via the New York Giants Twitter