Kansas football: The new conversation at running back and the talent we have at our disposal for 2021
Kansas football has a decent rushing scenario set for 2021. Velton Gardner, Daniel Hishaw are names with substance, and recently signed Devin Neal brings more potential to the table.
Following the ‘early signing period’, Kansas football has acquired another promising option to run the ball for offensive coordinator Brent Dearmon and head coach Les Mile’s offense. Kansas had their share of backs showcase their abilities this season and it will likely be a competitive seat to fill in spring ball.
Before ‘early signing day’ on December 16th, Kansas’ go-to running back Pooka Williams had declared for the NFL Draft. His departure from the program was likely expected, but the move to declare for the upcoming draft surprised me a little bit.
With Williams out of the picture, the Jayhawks will likely resort to duo Velton Gardner and Daniel Hishaw. Both backs saw a decent amount of playing time this season. Keeping this in mind, young talent in Amauri Pesek-Hickson and recently signed Devin Neal will add to our skillset.
Velton Gardner (#0)
A leadership role for the Kansas backfield may fall into Velton Gardner’s hands by the time fall 2021 rolls around. The sophomore stepped up following the unexpected absence of Pooka earlier this year and found decent numbers up until his injury.
Gardner will need to remain healthy if he wants to continue getting the looks he saw this year. With the outside circumstances out of the way, he will need to put this offense on his back and find a way to move the chains. Both Gardner and Hishaw have a lot of strength behind the ball and will likely compete in the spring.
Daniel Hishaw (#20)
Hishaw, a current freshman, had an excellent finish to his initial season with the Jayhawks. He put up an impressive performance against Texas Tech, consistently fighting for every yard in Kansas’ last appearance on the field for the 2020 season.
His age is another highlight, Hishaw will have plenty of time to develop strength over the offseason and hopefully, Daniel will see a full season in 2021. He remained mostly healthy this season, with only a couple of minor injuries seen in the bottom half of the year.
Amauri Pesek-Hickson (#23)
Following a late-season injury sustained to Daniel Hishaw, Amauri Pesek-Hickson found himself behind the ball for the Jayhawks. The freshman back endured the regular struggles of our offensive line, the same line our 2021 recruiting class aims to fix. This limited his ability to break through and find opportunities to have solid running attempts. Pesek-Hickson has shown some promise but his size will remain a factor heading into the spring.
Devin Neal (Signed with Kansas on December 16th, 2020)
In what may come as a surprise to many Kansans, the Jayhawks secured the top-rated recruit in the state for 2021. Devin Neal hails from Lawrence High School and has strong faith in the Kansas football program. Neal had been heavily looked at by Iowa, Nebraska, and Oklahoma State. Neal comes into the Jayhawk’s program following his excellent high school career, where he helped lead Lawrence High to a 9-1 record.
Head coach Les Miles commented following Neal’s signing, saying “We’re thrilled, we think he’s just what we need.” It’s obvious that Miles sees a lot of promise from the young running back and he will be competing for the top job.
Neal is younger and comes in at 5′ 11” with a great deal of speed. Keeping his age in consideration, he will likely be raising some eyebrows in practice. The real conversation is whether or not he can distill enough faith in the coaching staff to back the ball for Kansas. Development and experience is a must for Neal if he aims to contribute to this offense.
The bottom line:
For the Jayhawks, the running back position is going to be a valuable asset for Les Miles next season, as our receiving efforts will continue to develop next season. The good news is we have a lot of potential at our disposal. The main concern has been the offensive line, which will need to strengthen if we aim to have more rushing production next season.