High school phenom from Topeka returns to play football for Kansas Jayhawks

High school rivals Ky Thomas and Devin Neal sometimes reflect on their days as explosive running backs at Topeka High and Lawrence High respectively.

“We reminisce about it every so often,” Thomas, Kansas’ 5-foot-11, 200-pound redshirt sophomore transfer from the University of Minnesota said of the day Thomas’ Trojans defeated Neal’s Lions, 56-35, in a second-round Class 6A football playoff game Thomas’ senior year and Neal’s junior year.

In that game contested on Nov. 8, 2019, Thomas galloped for 373 yards on 49 carries and scored six touchdowns. Neal, KU’s 5-11, 210-pound true sophomore, countered with 256 rushing yards on 21 carries with four TDs in that high-scoring game.

Of course there are no hard feelings about what happened back in high school. These two players are now together at KU where they make up 2/5s of what is considered one deep KU backfield.

The other running backs vying for carries against Tennessee Tech in KU’s Sept. 2 opener at Booth Memorial Stadium: KU returnees Daniel Hishaw and Torry Locklin as well as Nebraska transfer Sevion Morrison.

“Yes, me and Ky are close,” Neal said. “I grew up with Ky. We played Little League together. We went to different high schools (but) we are close. It’s cool me and him being here after playing back in the day together — backyard football. He brings a lot to the dynamics of our (RB) room,” Neal added, sounding like one of Thomas’ biggest fans.

“Ky is a smooth runner. When you see him he looks like he plays really loose,” Neal added of Thomas, whose 7,703 career yards in high school rank second all-time in Kansas high school history behind Wichita Collegiate’s DeAngelo Evans. Evans played high school football from 1992-96 then headed to the University of Nebraska and eventually Emporia State.

”He makes effortless cuts,” Neal added of his pal, Thomas, who rushed for 3,009 yards and 35 touchdowns his senior season at Topeka High.

KU has many capable running backs

All five of KU’s running backs have had success in Power Five football games.

Thomas gained 824 yards on 166 carries with six touchdowns last season at Minnesota. Neal rushed for 707 yards on 158 carries and scored eight TDs as a true freshman at KU.

Hishaw, a 5-11, 215-pound redshirt sophomore from Moore, Oklahoma, gained 229 yards on 52 carries with two TDs and Locklin, a 6-2, 210-pound redshirt junior junior from Rockdale, Texas, compiled 141 all purpose yards with three TDs at KU. Morrison, a 6-foot, 210-pound, redshit sophomore from Tulsa, Oklahoma, gained 116 yards on 30 carries and scored one TD in 2021 for the Huskers.

“There are a lot of examples of moving around backs in different positions,” Thomas said of KU practice sessions held in advance of KU’s opener on Sept. 2 vs. Tennessee Tech at 7 p.m. in Booth Memorial Stadium.

“We’ve experienced it,” he added of head coach Lance Leipold, offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki and RB coach Jonathan Wallace using more than one back at a time.

“We’ve practiced different scenarios where we have one, two, three — multiple backs on the field. We’ve had a lot of fun with it. We will have a fun time switching up, moving guys around, getting in there. I think we should have fresh legs,” Thomas added.

With a deep group of running backs, experienced quarterbacks in Jalon Daniels and Jason Bean and wide receiver and tight end targets that include Thomas’ former Minnesota teammate Douglas Emilien, KU could put up a bunch of points in in 2022.

“The offense looks great,” Thomas said. “The quarterbacks are great leaders on this team, for this offense. They’ve done a great job this fall camp. We’re starting to find our strong suits and what we are able to do this season. The consistency of everything, the energy at practice, how we go about practice (are positives),” Thomas noted. “Everybody is going after it and attacking.”

Unselfish backs willing to block

He said the backs actually enjoy blocking.

“It’s kind of different when one of us has to block for the other. We know how it feels running behind blocks. I want to make sure when I’m out there blocking I’m going to block hard for them for sure,” Thomas said of freeing his teammates for long gains.

Thomas said a bonus this season and seasons to come is being able to play so close to his hometown of Topeka.

“It’s been great, been a lot of fun being around my family,” Thomas said. “Being away from them kind of took a toll mentally. Knowing the travel for the games (was difficult for family) … being here and able to see them every day, it’s been great.”

There are obviously differences between Kansas and Minnesota.

“It’s warmer for sure, way warmer (in Kansas),” Thomas said. The Jayhawks normally hold their practices from 8 a.m. until after 10 a.m. before it gets too steamy outside.

“The sun is out, there’s a nice breeze sometimes. There’s great weather here for sure,” Thomas added.

He said the Jayhawks have had a productive preseason camp which has spanned the month of August.

“We’re really focusing on completing our assignments,” Thomas said of the players on offense. “I’d tell people (fans) to get fired up. We (backs) are all going to bring a huge impact. We’re going to make a difference that’s for sure.”

KU’s backs ‘serious about our jobs’

Noted Hishaw: “We are all locked in and serious about our jobs. I think we (five backs) all bring power and all believe we can do that (bust tackles). I believe we all can make people miss. Ky can slip off them; Sevion can do it. All of us can do it. Devin can clean the (heck) out of the bar. Ky is strong. He’s surprised me with his squats. We all can lift that weight.”

Of Thomas specifically, RB coach Wallace said: “Ky has really good vision, He understands what’s going on. He can think through plays and sequences on a different level. So he pushes a lot of guys. All these guys … they are teaching each other. It’s a lot of fun as a coach to see them interact like that.”