Kansas football’s Devin Neal turned the NFL Draft down. So what’s left to improve on?
After speculation that Kansas running back Devin Neal would declare for the NFL Draft last season, Neal announced his return for his senior season in January.
His announcement came via a video that he ended by saying: “What would it mean for you to be a legend? Everything.”
Neal ran for 1,280 yards on 203 carries, averaging 6.3 yards per carry with 17 touchdowns in the 2023 season. He was rewarded with an All-Big 12 second-team selection.
Now he’s back for one last iteration of spring football. According to Kansas running backs coach Jonathan Wallace, Neal’s mindset hasn’t changed.
“The intent has been the same as it was when he (first) showed up, which has been awesome,” Wallace said. “He’s still trying to find little tidbits of what he can do to get better. That’s one thing you love about the kid. He wants to grow in every aspect of his game and he’s constantly working on it all the time.”
Neal consistently seeks out Wallace with football questions — aiming to better read defenses and improve as a running back.
Still, the most significant thing Neal is working on is becoming a more vocal leader.
“It’s exactly what you want as a coach,” Wallace said. “The one thing I’ve challenged him with is talking. This is probably the most he’s talking in meetings. He’s leading the meetings.”
Midway through last season, talk began about whether Neal would depart for the NFL Draft or return to KU. According to Wallace, he never pressured Neal to make a decision.
“He knew at some point — we all needed to have the conversation,” Wallace said. “I wanted the young man to just focus on the year. I do remember right before we took the field against Kansas State last year, I said, ‘Is this your last game in the Booth?’ He said, ‘We’ll find out.’ I asked him that because I wanted to take in the moment with him.”
Future of the Kansas running back position
Wallace is high on Neal, and he’s also high on another player new to the program.
In fact, the Jayhawks say they may have found another Devin Neal (in one aspect, at least) in class-of-2024 running back Harry Stewart, a 5-foot-10 freshman from Frisco, Texas.
Stewart was a three-star recruit by the 247Sports Composite rankings, slotted at No. 678 nationally and as the No. 53 running back.
“It’s impressive to see a young man come out of high school and enroll as early as he has,” Wallace said. “Physically, he has all the pieces. … Now it’s just a matter of getting him tied into the playbook even more. Talk about somebody that calls you at night asking questions about film. It’s almost like Devin Neal all over again. The demeanor, the want-to — I’m really fired up about Harry.”
