Devin Neal decided to come back for his senior year, playing for his hometown Kansas Jayhawks football team. That decision could help improve his draft status next April.
Neal, who has already accumulated 3,077 rushing yards and 33 touchdowns on the ground, ranks fourth in Kansas football history rushing yards. He needs just 765 to pass June Henley to be the most prolific rusher ever at Kansas, and that includes Pro Football Hall of Famers Gale Sayers and John Riggins.
Even with a deep running back room, Neal should get a bulk of the carries, but will get plenty of snaps off regularly enough to stay fresh as games progress.
How high could Devin Neal go in the 2025 NFL Draft?
If Neal has another explosive season on a ranked Kansas football team, he should have plenty of time in the spotlight. He's already impressed with his skill base.
Ian Cummings from Pro Network thinks Neal has the skill set to be selected on the second day in the 2025 NFL Draft.
"Neal grades out as a top-75 prospect, who could contend for early-to-mid Day 2 capital in April. And in a stacked RB class, his blend of youth, experience, and two-phase production could help set him apart."Ian Cummings
Cummings states Neal's elusiveness and ability to make quick, hard, decisive cuts in traffic are skills that should translate well and impress NLF teams.
His cons are that he sometimes ignores interior holes and prefers to bounce to the outside, and that he lacks a degree of physicality. Sometimes, he tends to run too upright, but that is something he can work on as his career continues.
Neal should be a key piece for the KU offense that has a star quarterback in Jalon Daniels (when healthy) and a stable of experienced, athletic, talented wide receivers who should take plenty of pressure off the running game.
Neal will give up some carries to his running mate Daniel Hishaw Jr., but this should allow Neal to maintian his health throughout the season.
He is also an underrated pass catcher, as he has 53 career receptions at Kansas for 457 yards and three touchdowns. That versatility will help the Jayhawks and should help him at the next level. Cummings also mentions that Neal "Flashes good pass-blocking effort and can align his base and attack with tight hands." This is another skill set NFL teams will want in a running back if they are going to use an early pick on that position.
The future looks bright for Neal, not only in the upcoming season for the Jayhawks, but for his career beyond the campus.