Arrowhead Pride
Looking at one of the more intriguing prospects at Kansas City’s recent local pro day.
One of the more intriguing players who participated in the Kansas City Chiefs’ local pro day last week is Kansas running back Devin Neal.
While David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium in Lawrence underwent renovations in 2024, Neal and the Jayhawks played their home games last season at Arrowhead. Could his home on Sundays also be a short drive east on I-70 from his college campus?
Here’s what to know about Neal:
Kansas’ starting running back for most of the past four seasons will need no introduction to much of Chiefs Kingdom. The product of Lawrence High School stayed local by committing to KU as a three-star recruit in 2021. Four years later, he enters the draft as the school’s all-time leader in rushing yards (4,343) and total touchdowns (53).
After the season, Neal was invited to the Senior Bowl and attended the NFL Scouting Combine. In Indianapolis, Neal measured at 5 feet 11 and weighed 213 pounds. His solid, if unspectacular, 4.58-second time in the 40-yard dash is mitigated by outstanding numbers in both the vertical (37.5 inches) and broad jumps (10 feet and four inches).
Over four seasons, Neal proved capable of handling a heavy workload. His long runs are plentiful, generally showing great vision and decisiveness — as this clip from last season against Colorado shows:
Neal sees the hole and takes the ball for an almost 30-yard gain. He clearly looks primed to exploit whatever opening the Buffalo defense left him. Despite eventually gaining 207 rushing yards against Colorado for the second-highest output of his college career, Neal’s lack of game-breaking speed shows as he is taken down from behind by the safety. This raises the question of his ceiling against NFL competition.
Among the Chiefs’ highest priorities as the offseason program begins should be getting their running backs more involved in the passing game. Neal would certainly raise the floor as a pass catcher out of the backfield, both on downfield routes and some of the screens and wheel routes common to head coach Andy Reid’s best seasons calling offensive plays.
Overall, Neal is a competent back with a chance to have a solid career. His intelligence during the play will endear him to coaches. Even when a play is blown up, he almost always can fall forward to gain a yard or two, and he is outstanding at taking care of the football. Per Dane Brugler of The Athletic, Neal only fumbled twice over the final 502 carries of his college career.
One area that Neal has likely spent the last few weeks addressing with teams is his instincts in pass protection. Even during the same game, as last season against Iowa State, his efforts picking up the rush range from unacceptable to routine. Performance as shown in the first clip will likely see him scratched from game day rosters and eventually cut from the...
