NFL Draft
2/26/25
6 min read
Devin Neal 2025 NFL Draft: Scouting Report For Kansas Jayhawks RB
Height: 5106 (verified)
Weight: 220lbs (verified)
Year: Senior
Pro Comparison: Zach Charbonnet
Scouting Overview
Kansas Jayhawks running back Devin Neal projects as a potential NFL starting running back. He has been an ascending talent with his passing game contributions to complement good vision, physicality, ball security, and competitive toughness as a primary runner.
Neal lacks ideal burst and foot speed for consistent explosive plays in the open, but his contact balance and well-built frame will create challenges for tacklers on the second level. He illustrates a savvy feel for navigating backfield pressure and contact, finding ways to slip through creases and optimize his run opportunities. Neal has been an efficient and effective short-yardage player who illustrates growing passing game appeal.
2025 NFL Combine Results
| Position | Name | School | 40-Yard Dash | 10-Yard Split | Broad Jump | Vertical Jump | 3-Cone Drill | 20-Yard Shuttle | Bench Press |
| RB | Devin Neal | Kansas | 4.58 | 1.59 | 37.5 |
Positives
- Well-balanced runner who is capable of sliding out of contact or challenging it head on with physicality
- Passing game profile is boosted by efficient outlet targets and stiffness in his pads in pass protection
- Willing to churn and earn “hard yards” and keep the chains moving in short-yardage run situations
Negatives
- Does not have the lightest or quickest feet, which do impact his cut burst
- Open-field speed and second gear should be considered only sufficient
- Leaves college as a high-mileage back with more than 750 carries to his name at Kansas
Background
Neal is from Lawrence, KS, and played high school football at Lawrence HS. There, he was rated as one of the best running back recruits in the country. As a 3-star recruit (247 Sports) from the class of 2021, Neal was also considered a baseball prospect. He elected to stay in his home state as the No. 1 rated recruit from the state of Kansas, committing to the Jayhawks over offers from Iowa, Oklahoma State, Nebraska, and others.
As a true freshman in 2021, Neal became the first Kansas freshman in program history to win Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week. He enjoyed his first 1,000-yard season in 2022 as a true sophomore, accomplishing the feat in 180 carries. Neal surpassed 200 carries for the first time as a junior in 2023 and ultimately decided to bypass the NFL Draft to return to school for his fourth and final season of eligibility in 2024.
Neal made the most of the season, becoming the program’s all-time leading rusher. He leaves a legacy that includes records for most rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, scrimmage touchdowns, and 100+ yard rushing games.
Neal was named Honorable Mention All-Big 12 three times (2021, 2022 & 2024) and Second Team All-Big 12 in 2023.
Tale Of The Tape
Neal is a physical runner who brings a pleasant blend of skills to the running back position. At Kansas, he was charged with a myriad of assignments, including running speed option, taking direct snaps from behind center as a Wildcat quarterback, and all of the traditional backfield runs that you would expect to see. Neal illustrates necessary contact balance and power in needed situations but offers an innate finesse instinct that can aid his rush opportunities when faced with immediate penetration in the backfield.
As a runner, he offers good forward lean in tight quarters and illustrates a savvy feel for the sticks in short-yardage situations. He boasted a high conversion rate on carries on third and fourth downs with 3 yards or less to go, creating a reliable short-yardage dynamic to his game.
However, don’t mistake him for just a power back or a short-yardage specialist. Neal shows good processing ability at the mesh point and was charged with running nearly a 50/50 split of gap and zone schemes that has afforded him the chance to flash something for everyone.
His athletic profile likely nudges his ideal future in a certain way, but Neal has illustrated the right instincts to be given an opportunity in a variety of backfield dynamics. With his pad level, contact balance, and only sufficient burst through his cuts, Neal may be better implemented in a downhill between-the-tackle scheme. These runs allow him to square his pads to the line of scrimmage and punish tacklers in the hole or hit them with his stutter step or jump cut and utilize his contact balance to fall forward or churn through contact.
Neal offers only sufficient perimeter speed and open-field burst. Outside zone concepts will be best with a stiff Y-tight end to help aid and soften the corner. When getting outside the numbers, Neal is a load for defensive backs to try to bring down and will often take defenders for a ride for some added yardage before getting wrestled down.
In the passing game, his role has been that of a checkdown outlet in most cases. More than 43 percent of his total routes run the last two seasons were flares out of the backfield. As a pass protector, Neal offers good pop through his pads and shows a willingness to square up blitzers and close down angles.
His hand usage and balance after first contact hold the key for a more consistent and sustained rep — but he’s willing and offers the right density to offset free runners.
In all, this is a powerful runner with good ball security and a promising profile for added growth in an NFL passing environment, although he may need to grace as he transitions from Kansas to reach his potential as a possible primary player at the position.
Ideal Scheme Fit, Role
Neal projects as a gap scheme runner. His pad level and power will be useful and effective in opportunities to carry momentum into the gap while running hard between the tackles. He offers the vision to play in a zone scheme, although his foot speed and cut ability do cut into his appeal playing the game with that added layer of reactive athleticism.
Neal could, in the right situation, be a primary ball carrier but likely would benefit from platooning with other backs for more complementary situational opportunities.
Grade: 73.00/100.00, Fourth Round Value
Big Board Rank: TBD
Position Rank: TBD
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