Devin Neal closing in on school rushing records as season nears
Kansas running back Devin Neal celebrates after a six-yard touchdown run during the first quarter against Iowa State Saturday November 4, 2023 at Jack Trice Stadium. (Lynn Harrington/stayaliveinpower5)
LAS VEGAS — Although the Big 12 will be full of elite running backs for the 2024 season, there are just two that’ll be within striking distance of shattering school rushing records, and Kansas has one.
Devin Neal is the only returning two-time, 1,000-yard rusher in the conference, and he’s going to be on a mission this fall. The hometown kid has his sights set on leading the Jayhawks to a Big 12 Title. However, Neal can kill two birds with one stone during the process by putting together another productive campaign on the ground.
He has rushed for 3,077 yards and 33 touchdowns through three seasons. Now Neal needs 765 more yards on the ground, and nine rushing scores this year to break June Henley’s school records. Henley accomplished those feats nearly 30 years ago, and Neal has an opportunity to cement his legacy with the program.
The 5-foot-11, 215-pounder is a bruiser, who strongly believes he’s the top running back in a deep conference, and it’s tough to argue against that with his jaw-dropping production. Still, Neal appreciates that the Big 12 has the best collection of rushers, and what they all bring to the table as a whole.
“Personally I already think I’m the best, that’s just my nature, and that’s who I am,” Neal said. “It’s always respect to those guys too, because they have their own style and I respect game and pay attention to what makes guys different.”
Coach Lance Leipold will field a loaded offense, and Neal feels like the sky’s the limit for the unit. The backfield will be deadly with Neal and Daniel Hishaw. Regardless of the matter, Neal knows they have to go out and prove it again on the gridiron. After all, the duo combined for 1,906 yards on the ground, and 24 rushing scores in 2023.
Neal and Hishaw are also close and want to see each other succeed, so there’s never no animosity over carries. New Offensive Coordinator Jeff Grimes will dictate how far the tandem can go this fall. Grimes has a history of doing great work with running backs in his pro-style offense, and that has Neal’s full attention.
“The connection that he (Grimes) built with us is very important, I think he’s going to push us to be better because we actually have a trust commission,” he said. “Coach Grimes was more intentional on getting to know us as people beyond players, and I think that’s going to go a long way.”
It’s no mystery that quarterback Jalon Daniels is dynamic, and if he can stay healthy the Jayhawks should be able to run on any team on their schedule. With so many seniors and veterans on Kansas’ roster, Neal and his teammates feel it’s Big 12 Title or bust. And that’s saying a lot for a program that has never made an appearance in the Championship Game.
“In our brains we gotta be a 10-win team, and how do you do that is the question,” the 20-year old said. “Staying hungry, because when success comes you can get complacent, so there’s been a huge emphasis from leaders like me and JD, that we don’t have time to be complacent.”
In Neal’s perfect world the Jayhawks will win the Big 12 crown, earn a spot in the Playoffs and he breaks the school rushing records along the way. That’s going to be easier said than done, but Neal is confident Kansas has what it takes to climb the mountain top this time around.
