Kansas football lands extremely athletic running back Devin Neal

Kansas football’s Les Miles and Brent Dearmon are continuing to bring in talent with the commitment of Devin Neal.

Kansas football continues to add depth to its class of 2021 with the verbal commitment of three-star running back Devin Neal out of Lawrence High School. The hometown hero will be more than just a football player though, he’ll also be playing baseball for the Jayhawks.

Neal was highly sought after by schools other than Kansas though. He also received football offers from Iowa, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, and Kansas State. 247 Sports’ evaluation projects Neal as a “power-5 starter,” calling him a “strong runner who runs through arm tackles.”

In his 2019 season, Neal rushed for over 1,600 yards plus 26 touchdowns. He also had over 500 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns.

Here’s Devin Neal’s commitment post:

In addition to running the ball, Neal also lines up as a receiver now and then. That versatility will give offensive coordinator Brent Dearmon some options and possibly allow him to come up with some imaginative plays.

Neal probably won’t have to take too long either to get playing time. Considering Pooka Williams will be graduating after the 2022 season, Neal could see regular action at running back as soon as his sophomore year.

Neal, the No. 3 overall recruit in the state of Kansas is a great addition to the Jayhawks’ class of 2021. Kansas football’s class of ’21 is now ranked fifth in the Big 12 according to 247 Sports, and No. 25 overall in the country. If Les Miles and his coaching staff can continue to recruit at a high level and keep the best in-state kids at home, the Jayhawks’ turnaround could happen sooner rather than later.

Watch for even more commitments coming in for the Jayhawks in the class of 2021. The staff has offered hundreds of recruits, so expect the class to begin taking shape earlier than with previous regimes.