Kansas running back Devin Neal is among the most talented rushers in the nation. The Lawrence native exploded to rush for the 16th-most rushing yards (a career-high 1,209) in the entire country last season. Another massive campaign looms large for Neal in 2024.
Neal recently spoke exclusively with The Draft Network. Neal discussed his breakout season, executing both zone and gap concepts, improving as a pass-catcher in 2024, his favorite play in the playbook, and more.
JM: You took another step forward in 2023, rushing for a career-high 1,209 yards and 15 touchdowns. What changed for you this past season?
Devin Neal: I put in a lot of training sessions with professional running backs in the offseason. I dove a lot more into my film study as well. I specifically focused on what those guys do at the next level.
I got the right feedback and it led to me improving my overall game on a daily basis. That was probably the most important thing for me. I knew I wanted to work on my footwork, general explosiveness, and my cutting ability.
I focused heavily on those areas, as well as my ability to catch the ball. Lining up in the slot is something I’ve been working on this offseason. With a new offensive coordinator in Jeff Grimes, hopefully the offense is willing to split me out wide a little more often.
Those are some of the things I’ve been working on this past offseason.
JM: Who were some of those pro running backs you put in work with?
Devin Neal: I worked a lot with Rachaad White. Leonard Fournette was another big name that was helpful. There were a couple of other pro guys at House of Athlete in Tampa. A lot of those guys poured into me and gave me some general knowledge about the game and what it takes to succeed at the next level.
Not all of them were running backs, but I got some great advice from other pro players in attendance.
JM: That’s awesome. You also averaged a personal-best 6.6 yards per carry. Did you feel like you were in a zone every time you touched the ball?
Devin Neal: Honestly, I did feel that way. It goes back to my coaching. I was always focused on getting vertical and falling forward. Those are a couple of traits that I’ve been taught. I let my power take over from there.
The game can be oversimplified at times. I just go out there and try to stay vertical, try to fall forward.
Kansas RB Devin Neal is silly man. I didn't think this would've been a touchdown after the first missed tackle lol. pic.twitter.com/1zrOVzXsDi
— Full-Time Dame 💰 (@DP_NFL) August 9, 2024
JM: This is a big season for you as you attempt to build on a career-best season. You’re obviously also older now than you were last season. Are you trying to be more of a vocal leader this year?
Devin Neal: Absolutely I am. Being named an offseason captain, I’ve been focusing on pouring into the young guys in our program. I want that responsibility. I’m investing in our program as a whole this season.
I want to help get Kansas where we want to go in 2024. I know everyone on the team can feel the pressure of being a Big 12 contender. We’re a playoff contender, and potentially a National Championship contender if things go according to plan.
Everyone wants that. My goal this season is to lead from the front.
JM: You’re a natural-born leader. You've executed both zone and gap concepts at Kansas. Which is your preference? Which scheme feels most natural to you?
Devin Neal: Honestly, both of those concepts feel pretty natural to me because I’ve done both of them for the majority of my life. To be totally honest with you, I think I especially excel in the gap game though. When it comes to running wide zone, I think I’ve done pretty well.
Those are two concepts I feel naturally comfortable with because I have a ton of reps in both. Like I said earlier, I’ve been pretty productive in both schemes throughout my career.
JM: What’s your favorite to play to run in the playbook?
Devin Neal: It has to be counter for me. Like I said earlier, I love the gap scheme. I just love running gap. It allows me to get downhill, but we also have pulling linemen. It does a lot to create open rushing lanes in multiple areas.
I would definitely say the gap scheme.
JM: That makes a lot of sense based on what we see on tape. If there's an area for improvement this season, there could be more production in the passing game. You talked about catching passes more often this year. Is that an area of emphasis for you?
Devin Neal: Yeah, I would definitely say that. Catching passes, and I’d add getting better in pass protection to that as well. To be honest, I think I have the ability to be far more productive in the passing game.
I think in the right offense, I’ll be split out wide more often. That’s something I’ve spoken to coach Grimes about. I feel like I can be a bigger contributor in that area. I think you’re going to see a lot more of that this year.
I’m looking forward to getting better in pass protection as well.
JM: That makes a lot of sense. What's the best game you've played to date in a Kansas jersey and why?
Devin Neal: It probably has to be that Oklahoma State game from my 2022 season. I rushed for 224 yards and had another 110 as a receiver. I was definitely in a groove that game. A lot of things were working for me on offense, both in the run game and the passing game.
That was for sure my best game in a Kansas uniform so far.
JM: That was a legendary performance. You’re from Lawrence, Kansas. You’re a Kansas guy through and through. What does it mean to represent the hometown program?
Devin Neal: It means everything to me. I take a lot of pride in playing a role in our turnaround. We’ve put the program in a much better place. We have so much attention on us nowadays.
It took a lot of hard work for us to reach this point. I’m super proud of the guys that stayed here and saw this journey through. We stood tall in the face of adversity.
I have the greatest things in the world to say about head coach Lance Leipold and his staff. I was brought up in the right situation. Things couldn’t be going any better at Kansas.
JM: We love that. This has been outstanding. We've appreciated your time today. What are Devin Neal’s goals for 2024?
Devin Neal: I want to have another 1,000-yard season. I want to be considered among the best players in the nation. I think I have the ability to show the world that.
