Lance Leipold addresses replacing Devin Neal: 'Daniel Hishaw has waited patiently'

Losing Devin Neal to the next level leaves Kansas having to replace an in-state product who went on to become their program’s all-time leading rusher. Still, Lance Leipold trusts that the Jayhawks can make up for that production with one name or another.

Leipold addressed their plans at running back without Neal while at the Otto Schnellbacher Classic. He feels they’ll have enough collectively in the backfield, despite it being a lot to offset without him, to make up for a lot of that production lost.

“Well, you know, it’s going to be a challenge,” said Leipold. “You know, we feel that we have good depth.”

Neal left Kansas with 4,343 rushing yards, averaging 88.6 per game, and 49 scores. Add in his receiving statistics and he posted 5,054 yards with 53 touchdowns in college. That led him to being selected by the New Orleans Saints as a sixth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

That said, Leipold named Daniel Hishaw Jr. as the player that’ll be the focus for them at running back. He has built experience as a reserve, being the second running back on the depth chart for them, the past five seasons with him now taking that step up at the position.

“I mean, Daniel Hishaw has waited patiently and I think he’s ready to have a big year for us,” said Leipold. “He’s a powerful back. Before the hip injury a few years back, he was playing every bit as good as Devin. Nothing against Devin.”

In 34 games played in Lawrence, Hishaw has 282 rushes for 1,493 yards, good for 43.9 per game and 5.3 per carry, and 18 touchdowns. He had a career-best year two seasons ago with 121 attempts for 626 yards, at 48.2 per game and 5.2 a carry, and eight touchdowns but saw those statistics drop, in five less games played, to 65 carries for 376 yards, averaging 47 a game and 5.8 a touch, and three touchdowns.

Finding that kind of production, especially from year-over-year, is going to be a major aspect for Kansas to deal with now that Neal is gone. Still, with Hishaw, as well as other options, there in place, Leipold sees more than one for the Jayhawks to do it.

“Between Daniel and Leshon Williams, we feel we’re going to have nice depth there and a nice one-two punch,” said Leipold.