‘It means continuing the legacy that Devin started:’ LHS junior and KU commit hopes to be next local star for Jayhawks

By David Rodish     Jan 29, 2025

article image Landon Cory/Special to the Journal-World
Lawrence High sophomore returner and safety Josh Galbreath celebrates after scoring the game-winning touchdown in a 23-20 win over Dodge City in the first round of the 6A state playoff on Oct. 27, 2023, at LHS.

Josh Galbreath closely followed Devin Neal’s career when Neal made the two-mile move from Lawrence High School to the University of Kansas.

Galbreath’s older brother, Eric, played alongside Neal at Lawrence. The younger Galbreath saw Neal, a three-sport athlete for the Lions, become a power-conference prospect at running back for the Lions. He, like many others, loved to watch Neal play football. Galbreath also saw Neal commit as the Jayhawks were coming off an 0-9 season that ended with a new coach in town.

Four years later, Neal isn’t just a local kid who got to play for the big school up the road. Neal became the school’s all-time leader in rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, scrimmage yards and scrimmage touchdowns. It came while Kansas, as a program, had some of its most successful seasons.

Galbreath, now a junior at Lawrence, wants to follow Neal’s path. On Saturday, the linebacker committed to Kansas to help the program continue to grow.

“For me, (committing to Kansas) means continuing the legacy that Devin started,” Galbreath said. “It means continuing that, or if not, be better.”

Relationships with the coaching staff were the most important thing that Galbreath looked for when deciding on a school. Whenever he visited and talked to the coaching staff, he felt like they were a family. That made the difference for him. Everything he wanted was two miles up the road.

“(The coaching staff) answered some questions that I needed answered, and I decided to make a commitment,” Galbreath said. “I felt like I was searching for something that was right in front of me the whole time.”

Galbreath isn’t the only Kansas native committed to the Jayhawks in the 2026 recruiting cycle. The KU coaching staff has made an early effort to recruit the state, and it has paid off with commitments from Nate Sims (Ottawa), Hunter Higgins (Maize South), JJ Dunnigan (Manhattan), Jaylen Mason (Wichita Southeast) and Kaden Snyder (Salina Central). All are among the top recruits in the state on various recruiting websites.

Galbreath said that the in-state kids have a group chat that features the already committed Jayhawks. They then help the coaching staff recruit the state by talking to their peers and high school competitors about committing to Kansas.

“We’re trying to form those relationships before they even commit so that they want to (commit),” Galbreath said. “I want to be on a team where we’re all connected and on the same page.”

As a junior, Galbreath still has a lot of time left at Lawrence High School. He made his season debut on the basketball team on Tuesday and will play for the school’s baseball team in the spring. After that, he’ll still have another football season to play through, where he will likely continue his work as an offensive and defensive weapon.

Galbreath said he brings energy to the field, which shows whenever he competes. On the gridiron, Galbreath moved around to different linebacker positions with the Lions, finding a role wherever then-coach Clint Bowen thought the defense could use a rangy, athletic player. Often, it was rushing the passer. In other games, it meant being the middle linebacker against run-heavy teams.

In whatever role he plays for the Jayhawks, Galbreath has the talent to develop into a special player. The goal is to follow the mold of Neal, and be the player the next generation of Lions watch commit to KU and make an impact.

The relationship that Galbreath has with the coaching staff, former players and his fellow 2026 recruits have made the Jayhawks his future home. Now that he’s figured that part out, he can make his own legacy with the Jayhawks as the next hometown kid to finish what Neal started four years ago.

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119813‘It means continuing the legacy that Devin started:’ LHS junior and KU commit hopes to be next local star for Jayhawks

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Written By David Rodish