Kansas running back Devin Neal has been named as a candidate for the Doak Walker Award, which recognizes the best running back in the country.
Neal, a sophomore and a Lawrence High graduate, ran for 707 yards and eight touchdowns on 158 carries and caught seven passes for 57 yards and a touchdown.
He played in 11 games for the Jayhawks last season and missed the season finale against West Virginia. He earned his first start in the loss at Duke on Sept. 25 and ran for 107 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries and later ran for 100 yards and two touchdowns in a defeat to Oklahoma and 143 yards and three touchdowns in the overtime victory against Texas.
Seventy-three players were named as candidates for the Doak Walker Award, which requires the recipient to be in good academic standing and on track to graduate. Neal is the first Kansas player to be a candidate for the award since James Sims in 2013 and one of 21 sophomores recognized.
Other preseason candidates from teams on Kansas’ schedule this season are Oklahoma senior Eric Gray, Texas senior Roschon Johnson, TCU junior Kendre Miller, Oklahoma State junior Dominic Richardson, Texas junior Bijan Robinson and Kansas State junior Deuce Vaughn.
