6'2, 270 pound Lewis Neal is not your typical college football player, or college student for that matter. In fact, he's far from your average adult.
Neal, a defensive lineman for LSU, owns an investment firm, has created his own smartphone app and is the co-owner of Hair Factory, a salon which recently opened up and offered free cuts to all military, first responders, fire fighters and police officers as well as their families.
It was his, and his co-owner Joan Campbell, way of honoring three officers who were shot and killed in the area on July 17th.
“I just wanted to do something positive for the community, just give back and show our appreciation,” Neal said. “We want to have some positive things going around. There’s so much negativity going around. You need some positive things going viral.”
After years of day trading on the Foreign Exchange market, Neal saved up enough money to buy into the business and now has his sights set on buying a real estate firm.
“One day, I want to own a billion dollar firm and I will,” he said. "I want to be a role model for other athletes to branch out. There are a lot of stereotypes. I want to be able to change them."
As for the aforementioned smartphone app he invented with one of his friends, it is geared toward students and they plan on launching it in the near future.
Additionally, he recorded 8 sacks for the Bayou Bengals last season and holds the record with a 391-pound clean. Look out for big things from #92 on and off the field this upcoming season.
“I can’t wait, man,” Neal said. “It’s going to be a great year. We’ve got too much talent. I’m tired of saying that. It doesn’t mean anything. We’ve got to do it. We’ve got everything we need to be successful.”
[Via]