Pound for pound, Lorenzo Neal is the preeminent fullback in the National Football League today. A long-overdue starter in the 2006 Pro Bowl, Neal’s credentials speak for themselves. He’s been a lead blocker for nine straight 1,000-yard rushers and he’s cleared the way for LaDainian Tomlinson each of the last three seasons.

A veteran of 13 seasons in the league, Neal has distinguished himself with his durability, having played in 192 consecutive regular-season games dating back to the 1994 season. One of the keys to his longevity is a strict training regimen that includes boxing workouts with former IBF Junior Middleweight Champion Paul Vaden and Ultimate Fighting Light Heavyweight Champion Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell. Neal also has trained in the past with Jennifer Alcorn, a Lightweight World Champion in women’s boxing. Lorenzo’s brother Eddie is a professional boxer who has a record of 5-1 with four wins by knockout in the Heavyweight division.

Neal enjoys a wide range of outdoor activities, including golf, fishing, horseback riding, dirt bike riding, water skiing and riding Jet Skis.

Wrestling is his indoor sport of choice. An All-America wrestler in college, Neal returns to Fresno State during the offseason and stays in shape by working out with some of the nation’s top collegiate wrestlers.

Through his travels as a professional athlete, Lorenzo has become a collector of sports memorabilia. Boxing gloves worn by Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier are among his most prized collectibles. He also owns two classic cars: 1971 and ’72 Cutlass Supremes.

Neal and close friend Major Rodgers established the “Changing a Generation Foundation” to help youth from Fresno High School learn to set and achieve goals while working toward a college education.

He also owns a commercial real estate business, M & N Service Inc., which manages apartment complexes around Fresno.

Lorenzo is interested in pursing a career in sports broadcasting after he retires. In March, he spent three days co-hosting NFL Total Access on the NFL Network.

TRANSACTION HISTORY: Fourth-round choice (89) by New Orleans, April 25, 1993…signed with New York Jets, March 31, 1997…traded to Tampa Bay for fifth-round pick, March 12, 1998…released by Buccaneers, Feb. 11, 1999…signed with Tennessee, March 23, 1999…released by Titans, March 1, 2001…signed with Cincinnati, May 8, 2001…signed with Chargers, March 3, 2003…signed two-year extension through 2007, Oct. 28, 2005.

2006: Lorenzo Neal helped clear way for 194-yard rushing effort in Sept. 11 season opening 27-0 win at Oakland…Bolts scored two rushing touchdowns, one each by LT and Michael Turner…helped clear holes and open running lanes for 241-yard rushing effort against Tennessee in 40-7 Week 2 that included two rushing touchdowns by Tomlinson…helped Chargers rush for 150 yards against Baltimore Week 3…Ravens defense had only been allowing 34.3 yards per game on ground coming into contest…cleared way for 119 rushing yards against Pittsburgh, Oct. 8…Steelers had come into game ranked fourth against run and only allowing 78.3 yards per game on ground…helped Tomlinson tie team record and set career high with four rushing touchdowns Oct. 15 at San Francisco…lead blocker for 216-yard, three-touchdown effort against St. Louis Oct. 29…played in 200th-consecutive game and helped Chargers rush for 190 yards and three scores in 32-25 win over Cleveland Nov. 5…helped clear way for Tomlinson to rush for 104 yards and four touchdowns in 49-41 win at Cincinnati Nov. 12…opened holes for Tomlinson to rush for 105 yards and three scores in 35-27 win at Denver Nov. 19…during game, Tomlinson went over 1,000 yards for season, marking 10th-straight year Neal was lead blocker for 1,000-yard rusher…had three carries in Broncos’ game with two going for first downs on third-and-one plays…helped block for 110-yard and two-touchdown effort against Oakland Nov. 26…helped Bolts rush for 197 yards and two touchdowns in 24-21 win at Buffalo Dec. 3…threw key blocks on both of Tomlinson’s touchdown runs against Bills, covering 51 and two yards…scored first touchdown of season against Denver Dec. 10 on four-yard run on trick play called “Bumarooski” late in first quarter…was first rushing touchdown since Sept. 28, 2003 at Oakland and gave Bolts 14-0 lead…helped set up touchdown with si x-yard run on third-and-one play two snaps before touchdown…threw key block on Kendrell Bell that sprung Tomlinson loose on career-long 85-yard touchdown run against Kansas City Dec. 17…was third-longest run in team history…helped contribute to Bolts racking up 265 rushing yards, fifth-most in team history.

2005: 2006 Pro Bowl starter…named to All-Interview Team by NFL.com…started 100th career game in season opener against Dallas…had three carries against Cowboys on short yardage plays, all resulting in first downs…two carries on second-and-short plays against New York Giants Sept. 25, both netting first downs…lone carry against Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football Oct. 10 resulted in first down…led team with four catches at Oakland Oct. 16…logged one carry against Raiders for first down on second-and-one play…five-yard run on third-and-one play in third quarter Oct. 23 at Philadelphia led to touchdown two plays later that trimmed 10-0 deficit to 10-7…three carries on short yardage plays all resulted in first downs against Kansas City Oct. 30…added 17-yard catch on first play of first-quarter touchdown drive against Chiefs…caught first touchdown pass since Oct. 27, 2002 on two-yard pass from Drew Brees on fourth-and-one play in 48-10 win over Buffalo Nov. 20…all three carries against Oakland on ESPN Sunday Night Football Dec. 4 resulted in first downs…in second quarter, rushed for three yards on third-and-two and two yards on second-and-one during touchdown drive that gave Bolts 17-10 lead…then rushed for three yards on second-and-one play early in third quarter touchdown drive to give Chargers 24-10 edge.

2004: Pro Bowl first-alternate…named to USA Today’s All-Joe Team…helped LaDainian Tomlinson rush for 1,335 yards and Chargers rush for 2,185 yards as team…12-yard kickoff return against Tampa Bay Dec. 12…Chargers Alumni Player of Week after rushing four times for season-high 16 yards at Cleveland Dec. 19.

2003: Pro Bowl first-alternate…named to USA Today’s All-Joe Team…helped pave way for Tomlinson to rush for 1,645 yards and team to rush for 2,146 yards…season-high seven carries and 22 yards at Cleveland Oct. 19…scored first touchdown of season on three-yard run at Oakland Sept. 28…carried three times for seven yards in short yardage situations against Baltimore Sept. 21…all three carries against Ravens resulted in first downs.

2002: Pro Bowl selection…paved way for Bengals running back Corey Dillon to rush for 1,311 yards…caught one-yard touchdown pass against Tennessee Oct. 27.

2001: Pro Bowl second-alternate…named to USA Today’s All-Joe Team…helped Dillon rush for 1,315 rushing yards.

2000: Pro Bowl third-alternate after paving way for Eddie George’s 1,509 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns…NFL’s Best Blocking Fullback by Sporting News and named to Sports Illustrated’s Midseason All-Pro Team.

1999: Selected to USA Today’s All-Joe Team…led way for Eddie George to rush for 1,304 yards in regular season and two 100-yard games in playoffs…member of Titans squad that finished 16-4 and earned berth in Super Bowl XXXIV against St. Louis.

1998: Helped Tampa Bay’s Warrick Dunn rush for 1,026 yards.

1997: Helped Jets running back Adrian Murrell rush for 1,086 yards as team’s top fullback.

1996: Set career highs with 31 catches and 194 receiving yards for New Orleans Saints.

1995: Caught career-long 69-yard touchdown pass at New England Dec. 3.

1994: Established career high with 30 carries, good for 90 yards and one touchdown.

1993: Suffered season-ending ankle injury at Atlanta on Sept. 12 after starting first two games…led team in rushing with 13 carries for 89 yards in NFL debut at Houston on Sept. 5…placed on “Reserve-Injured” list Sept. 15 for remainder of rookie season.

COLLEGE: Finished career as school’s second-leading rusher with 2,405 yards…All-Big West as junior and senior…played in Japan Bowl All-Star Game…All-America wrestler for Bulldogs as junior heavyweight…defeated sumo wrestler in exhibition match in Japan during Japan Bowl…played at Fresno State from 1989-1992…graduated with degree in criminal justice.

PERSONAL: Born Dec. 27, 1970 in Hanford, California…fullback and linebacker at Lemoore High School near Fresno…won state wrestling title as senior…Lorenzo and wife Denisha have one son, Lorenzo, and twin daughters, Nylya and Mia.