Kansas running back Devin Neal understands what a strong 2023 season could mean for him

ARLINGTON, Texas — During a recent break, Kansas running back Devin Neal trained at House Of Athlete in Florida.
Neal, a junior, said he was there with teammate and redshirt senior linebacker Craig Young. Neal described it as a great experience and an opportunity to pick the brains of people such as Leonard Fournette, a LSU product who’s enjoyed a successful career in the NFL since being drafted in 2017. It was another example of the extent to which Neal is pushing himself to be prepared for the upcoming college football season.
But while Neal’s main focus is the 2023 campaign with his Jayhawks, it’s not as if he’s unaware of what a strong year could mean for his future. Neal, who acknowledged that during the Big 12 Conference’s media days in Arlington, will enter the season as a member of the preseason All-Big 12 team. And if he lives up to that hype, or even exceeds it, he could soon have to make his own decision on if it’s time to make the jump to the professional ranks.
“I think it’s an important year for me, for sure,” said Neal, who values being from Lawrence, Kansas. “Obviously, I do have my own dreams and aspirations. Not thinking too hard about it, but definitely is on the back burner, thinking about the NFL — especially with my age and being a running back, too. So, definitely thinking about it. It could be a really big year for me. But even more importantly, big for our team. I’m just really excited to see what we do this year.”
As Neal helped Kansas to its first bowl game in more than a decade last year, he finished as the Jayhawks’ leading rusher for a second-straight season. Back in 2021, as a freshman, he led the team with 707 rushing yards, eight rushing touchdowns and 158 rushing attempts. In 2022, as a sophomore, he led in all three categories again and finished with 1,090 rushing yards, nine rushing touchdowns and 180 rushing attempts.
Neal said his preparation for 2023 hasn’t changed because of the implications the season could have on his future. Devoting himself to football alone, he’s studied players who are similar to him in size and style. As he’s tried to elevate his game, such as becoming better in pass protection and more versatile, he’s watched film on high-profile running backs like a couple of former first round picks in the NFL draft in Christian McCaffrey (2017, Stanford) and Bijan Robinson (2023, Texas).
Kansas head coach Lance Leipold has praised how motivated he’s seen Neal to be. As the Jayhawks’ offense continues to evolve, Leipold said Neal will continue to play a key role as Neal works toward being a more complete running back. And while it’s too soon in Leipold’s mind to start seriously thinking about the 2024 NFL draft, he understands a quality season for Neal could mean that Neal will have that decision to make.
“I don’t go ask guys if they’re thinking of going pro … before we even start the season,” Leipold said. “I don’t. But I think anybody who is draft eligible, we have to be somewhat aware of that. That can be in their thought process. But we also help them get draft status evaluations as well.”
The best thing Kansas can do for Neal, in Leipold’s mind, is ensuring the Jayhawks have a healthy running back room that has other good options that they can turn toward. That way, they can keep Neal healthy. That way, while not necessarily taking away any of Neal’s carries, they can better manage Neal’s snap count and avoid Neal taking as many hits.
Redshirt sophomore running back Daniel Hishaw Jr. will likely be the first name that comes to fans’ minds when Leipold starts talking like that, and it’s a name Leipold brought up as well. Although Hishaw suffered an injury during the 2022 season and missed the last eight games, Leipold said he expects Hishaw to be ready for the first week of fall camp. The two have proven to be a formidable duo in the past, with Neal describing himself as someone with finesse and speed and Hishaw as someone who’s a freak athlete with power.