Lance Leipold stresses importance of Devin Neal to Kansas' roster

Kansas running back Devin Neal had a breakout year last season for the Jayhawks, as he was one of five Big 12 running backs to rush for over 1,000 yards a season ago.

The other four running 1,000 yards rushers were all selected in the 2023 NFL Draft, leaving room for Neal to be the next top dog in the conference at the position. And at Big 12 Media Days, Kansas head coach Lance Leipold opened up about his RB1.

“Well, again, Devin is a highly motivated young man,” Leipold said. “He played baseball his first spring here, so he made most of our workouts, but again, it was part-time in his time there.”

Neal appeared in seven games for the Jayhawks baseball team his freshman year, also rushing for 707 yards and eight touchdowns for the football team.

He put an end to his baseball career during his sophomore season and it paid off on the football field, leading the team in rushing yet again with 1,090 rushing yards and 9 touchdowns last season, also adding 21 catches for 183 yards and a receiving score to his stat line.

Neal has improved in each of his seasons at Kansas, and based on the work he’s been putting in this offseason according to Leipold, he could be due to take yet another leap in 2023.

“His dedication and understanding holistically some things offensively, he’s continued to work as a receiver, blitz pickup, all those things you need to be a complete back. I think as we continue to evolve what we do offensively, again, understanding different things, he continues to work on and will do that,” Leipold explained.

Neal was a local prospect, attending Lawrence high school just a six-minute drive away from Memorial Stadium where the Jayhawks play on Saturdays. He was a four-star prospect ranked the No. 1 player in the state according to On3’s Industry Ranking, and the hometown hero has already lived up to the hype on and off the field during his career.

“He’s been outstanding for us on and off the field in his two years here, and also with what he does, we also need a healthy Daniel Hishaw with him to complement him because when those two were together at the beginning of the season, that’s a pretty good duo,” Leipold said.