Devin Neal to in-state recruits considering Kansas: ‘Don’t be afraid to take risks’

By Zac Boyer     Aug 6, 2022

Chance Parker/Journal-World photo
Kansas sophomore running back Devin Neal (4) during Kansas Football Training Camp on Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022.

Devin Neal always knew he wanted to be different.

The Lawrence High graduate grew up watching the Kansas football team struggle year after year but his fandom never wavered. When he was extended a scholarship by former coach Les Miles during his junior season and accepted it in March 2020, it was only natural that he’d take it.

What Neal didn’t know at the time was just how different his decision would be. Of the top 15 high school football players in the state in the class of 2021, according to Rivals.com and 247Sports, he was the only one to choose Kansas. Only one — safety Mason Ellis of Mulvane — decided to do so last year, and none are in line to do so this year.

Neal, a running back who is set to begin his sophomore season at Kansas, isn’t surprised that has been the case but stressed that it won’t be true for long. He said he still has relationships with several players who will be high school seniors this season and has remained active in sharing with them what he believes are the benefits of playing at Kansas.

“My message to them is kind of like, don’t be afraid to take risks,” Neal said last month at Big 12 football media days in Arlington, Texas. “I feel like that’s kind of the key to getting them to come to KU. It’s a risk. It’s an investment they’re not necessarily willing to take, which is fine. But I think we’re going to be on the verge of doing something really cool, and so I don’t want them to miss out on that. That’s what I kind of hint at.”

Nick Krug/Journal-World
Lawrence High running back Devin Neal takes off up the sideline past Shawnee Mission South defensive back Uriah James on his way to a touchdown during the first quarter on Oct. 11, 2019, at Lawrence High School.

Neal, who also plays baseball for the Jayhawks, was not just the No. 1-ranked player in the state as a high school senior. He was one of the top 15 running backs in the nation, received interest from several colleges and chose Kansas over Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Iowa and Nebraska.

Of the top dozen players in the state in the class of 2023, according to Rivals.com, five have already chosen to play for Kansas State. That doesn’t include running back Dylan Edwards, a running back from Derby who committed to the Wildcats in late June before switching to Notre Dame on Saturday.

“We can’t really talk about recruiting, per se, right now with NCAA rules, but it’s just important for us to do well in the state of Kansas,” Kansas State coach Chris Klieman said while in Arlington last month. “I’ve said that since I was here in 2019. It’s important for us to do well in the state.”

Neal mentioned Edwards and Free State offensive tackle Calvin Clements, who committed to Baylor over Kansas and Kansas State, as two high school seniors whom he continues to speak with. He did not share the details of their conversations — or whether they even listened to his pitches.

Clements, who on June 30 said he would attend Baylor, said that night that he thought for a long time he would stay in the city and play for Kansas. He wanted to take each of his official visits, however, and left Baylor, which received the final visit, believing “it was where I needed to be.”

“I listened to the (Kansas) coaches a lot on the visits and over phone calls and trusted — and still do trust — that they’re going to turn that program around,” Clements said.

What may prove to be beneficial for Kansas is that coach Lance Leipold and his assistants are only entering their second season at the university. Leipold was hired on April 30, 2021, following the resignation of former coach Les Miles a month earlier and the appointment of athletic director Travis Goff earlier that month, and was at that point already behind in recruiting.

Leipold’s first full recruiting cycle will culminate with the class of 2023, and he has recognized the challenges of getting those in-state players to buy into the program like Neal did. He said one told him he wished he were part of the class of 2024 because it would then be easier for him to choose the Jayhawks.

“Much like turning this program around, that’s not going to be a light-switch fix, either,” Leipold said Tuesday. “I think as we continue to show our consistency just in how we go about our day-to-day operation running this program, and I think as we deal with young male football players in the state of Kansas, I think they’re going to see that and hopefully, appreciate it. We know that there’s fine talent here and we’re continuing to do everything we can to be able to continue to keep them right here in Kansas.”

Neal backed up his decision to do so by rushing for 707 yards and eight touchdowns on 158 carries as a freshman last season. Two weeks ago, he was among the 73 players named as preseason candidates for the Doak Walker Award, which goes to the best running back in the country.

Perhaps if he and Kansas can succeed together, others will be interested in following his path, whether it’s down the street or across the state.

“Personally, I think it’s a risk some people aren’t ready for yet,” Neal said. “I like challenges. I was devoted to changing the program. Others, they look at it a little bit differently. They want to be successful right away — which is fair. I absolutely respect that.

“That’s where I think the difference is in these next few years for us. You’re going to see that incline that we do and then you’re going to see the recruiting battles become more even — if not, we take over. That’s where I think it is.”

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