Jayhawks running back Devin Neal has validated his college choice by winning at Kansas
When it came time for Devin Neal to shut down his recruitment and pick a college football team, the standout running back from Lawrence had no shortage of options.
He could have signed with Iowa, Kansas State, Missouri, Nebraska or Oklahoma State. Pretty much every school in the Midwest wanted him. But he chose to stay home and play for the Jayhawks.
Some viewed that as a curious choice, given the fact that KU was stuck in a decade of unprecedented losing at the time. Not Neal.
“I felt at home with them and I really wanted to change the program,” Neal said. “I wanted to play in front of my family and my friends. They had everything I was looking for and they matched with my values. those were things that I look for. When Coach (Lance) Leipold and his staff came in they made me even more sure that I was in the right spot.”
Neal has never expressed any regrets about his decision. In fact, he feels validation as he enters his junior season with the Jayhawks.
As a freshman, Neal rushed for 707 yards and eight touchdowns while he helped KU win two games and show significant improvement as the season went on. As a sophomore, he rushed for 1,090 yards and nine touchdowns as the Jayhawks reached their first bowl game since 2008.
“There’s definitely a certain buzz around campus right now,” Neal said. “We have more respect now and people respect us as a team. They’re not looking forward to basketball season yet. They’re looking forward to our football games.”
Neal has been a big part of that transformation.
He now finds himself on the preseason All-Big 12 team. KU fans and outsiders alike view him as one of the most dangerous offensive weapons in the conference. He is also a NFL prospect.
His football career is going so well that he decided to give up baseball after juggling both sports as a freshman.
This could be a truly special season for him, if everything continues to fall into place.
“I’ve been able to focus in on the fine details of my game and get into the nitty-gritty of what I need to do and know to have a great season,” Neal said. “Hopefully that will help me get to the next level.”
KU football coach Lance Leipold has outlined a few things Neal can improve on before he takes the next step.
“Devin is a highly motivated young man and he works and he completes,” Leipold said. “His dedication and his learning have really improved. He’s continuing to work as a receiver and blitz pick ups, everything you need to be a complete back.”
Leipold is particularly interested to see how well KU can execute on offense with a healthy Daniel Hishaw playing alongside Neal.
That duo, he said, will be hard for any defense to stop.
No matter what happens, Neal is motivated to help the Jayhawks finish 2023 with a winning record. No KU team has accomplished that feat since 2008, either. Nice as last year was, ending on a 1-7 run was disappointing.
He wants to help his team take an important next step, just like he envisioned when he decided to stay home for college.
“It definitely makes me proud that I have been part of this team that has been able to change this program so far,” Neal said. “I’m looking forward to changing it even more in the future.”
