Kansas football: Devin Neal, Daniel Hishaw Jr. poised for monster performances

Kansas football running backs Devin Neal and Daniel Hishaw Jr. are due for huge games in today’s road clash against Iowa State.

The Kansas Jayhawks (6-2, 3-2 Big 12) are one week removed from winning one of the biggest games in program history. However, they’ll need to cease their celebration, because they now are set to square off against the Iowa State Cyclones (5-3, 4-1 Big 12), who are riding a three-game winning streak and have home-field advantage.

Jalon Daniels is expected to miss his fifth consecutive game, so Jason Bean will start under center for the Jayhawks. While he has done enough in his role as the team’s signal caller, Kansas football is at its best when it is pounding the rock and running it up its opponent’s throat.

KU’s run game is dominated by tailbacks Devin Neal and Daniel Hishaw Jr. They have combined for 1,259 yards on the ground, and both have scored eight offensive touchdowns apiece.

The redshirt sophomore from Oklahoma, Hishaw, perfectly complements his counterpart, who is a Lawrence native and has been a Jayhawk fan since his early childhood. Neal is elusive and can make defenders miss with ease, but Hishaw will run it straight through the other team which makes it extremely difficult to bring him down.

Iowa State currently ranks 39th in FBS in rushing defense, surrendering just 3.75 yards per carry and 123.1 yards per game. However, the Kansas football rushing offense is even better, ranking 11th in the country with an average of 213.6 yards per game and 20 touchdowns.

Last week against Oklahoma, Hishaw found the end zone twice and ran for 51 yards on 12 attempts. Neal was not much more efficient but carried the ball 25 times for 112 yards and a touchdown. This tandem in the backfield could very well see 40+ totes again against the Cyclones, especially if Bean is not connecting on his throws.

Will the better defense or offense prevail in this battle? We don’t know for sure. But in order for Kansas football to pull away victorious in Ames tonight, Devin Neal and Daniel Hishaw Jr. will need to have one of the best games of their young career.