Devin Neal was viewed by many NFL Draft prognosticators as a second- or third-round selection.
Instead, the New Orleans Saints were pleased to take him in the sixth round.
The 5’11”, 213-pound running back was a three-star prospect in the 2021 recruiting class after being named 6A First-Team All-State in football at Lawrence (Kansas) High School. He was also considered the No. 2 baseball prospect in the state and the eighth overall by Baseball’s Perfect Game, following a 6A Second-Team All-State senior season as an outfielder. Some believed he had a higher long-range upside in baseball. Neal played both sports as a freshman for the Kansas Jayhawks.
His arrival on the Jayhawk campus coincided with that of Lance Leipold, who replaced Les Miles as the team’s head football coach.
In 2021, Kansas posted a 2–10 record, but Neal distinguished himself by finishing with 707 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. He became the first freshman in Jayhawk history to earn Big 12 Player of the Week honors after a standout performance against Texas on November 15, 2021: 24 carries for 143 yards and three touchdowns, along with two catches for 26 yards and another score in a stunning 57–56 road win over the Longhorns.
Following an anxious two-day wait during the 2025 NFL Draft, the call from the New Orleans Saints came at pick No. 184. “I’m excited to go to New Orleans,” Neal exclaimed after his selection by the Black and Gold. “It’s definitely a spot I’ve been to before, and I enjoyed every moment. I’m looking forward to getting down there, meeting the team, and getting everything rolling. I’m just really excited.”
Neal picked the right time to shine during Senior Bowl workouts in Mobile, with the Saints’ staff in attendance.
“I talked to them at the Senior Bowl. Coach (Joel) Thomas (Saints’ running backs coach) was the offensive coordinator for me. That connection is still there. We built a special bond. We get each other. We kind of click in that way, where we understand what each other is going to bring to the table. He’s a straight shooter, and I really enjoy that about him.”
Senior Bowl week can expose flaws in a player’s game, but it can also boost draft stock with a standout performance.
“It was an opportunity to prove myself,” Neal said. “For me, I’ve always viewed myself as an underdog, and I’ve always felt like I’ve had to prove myself. This wasn’t a test for me—it was just another day in the park to prove what I can do. That’s exactly what I did at the Senior Bowl. It was a great experience. I learned a lot, especially from Coach Thomas.”
Neal is described as a compact runner with impressive energy out of his cuts. He hits second gear in two steps and recorded 115 career runs of 10 or more yards at Kansas. He’s a very creative back with excellent vision.
One of his biggest assets may be his durability and dependability despite a heavy workload. He started 40 consecutive games without missing time due to injury and demonstrated excellent ball security, logging 760 carries with only four fumbles. His fluid hips and lateral quickness often result in missed tackles.
“I’m a patient runner with great vision and a good feel for different run schemes,” he said, analyzing his style. “I’m a make-you-miss guy, but I can also use my power. I believe I’m an every-down back—I can play all downs and contribute in the passing game. I’m ready to do whatever it takes to get on the field.”
On November 23, 2024, Kansas defeated Shedeur Sanders, Travis Hunter, and the Colorado Buffaloes 37–21. It marked the first time an FBS team with a losing record beat three ranked AP Top 25 teams consecutively (Iowa State and BYU were the others). In the win over Colorado, Neal recorded 207 rushing yards and three touchdowns, adding four receptions for 80 yards and another score.
“I feel like it’s just one of the games where I put it all together,” he stated modestly. “But I think my whole body of work speaks for itself. Hopefully, I can continue that with the Saints.”
Neal is far more than a one-game or one-season wonder. The Jayhawks boast a storied history of great runners, including NFL Hall of Famers Gale Sayers and John Riggins, along with Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Famer Curtis McClinton. Neal now sits atop Kansas’ all-time rushing list, finishing with 4,343 yards and 53 touchdowns, along with 77 catches for 711 yards and four receiving TDs. “It was special for me,” he said, reflecting on his records.
“I never imagined that would be my story. But to achieve that at that university meant so much to me.”
Not only did he excel on the field, but Neal was also recognized as a team leader and voted team captain. He understands the weight of that responsibility.
“I take being team captain seriously. I don’t think you just put on your jersey. I take it as a job and take the good with the bad, always holding guys accountable. I’m the type of guy that does whatever it takes for the team to win. I’m never a ‘me first’ type of guy. I want to win a Super Bowl with the Saints, and I’ll do whatever it takes.”
Neal believes his versatility and style make him a quintessential fit as an NFL running back. He has drawn comparisons to former Tulane standout and current Titans back Tyjae Spears. “I watch different running backs around the league and see what they do well, and I try to imitate that the best I can in my game,” he said. “I watch a lot of film. I deep dive into running backs and try to apply that to my own game.”
His all-time favorite role model is considered one of the elite backs in NFL history—and the fifth all-time leading rusher. Interestingly, that player briefly wore a Saints uniform for four games in 2017. “My dad was a fan, and we always watched Oklahoma growing up. So when I was younger, watching Adrian Peterson was easy to like as a football player. He’s just a special player, a special athlete. Hopefully, I can follow in his footsteps.”
Neal has shown a strong understanding of various offensive schemes, with 407 career carries in a gap scheme and 343 in zone concepts. In 2024, Kansas’ offensive coordinator was Jeff Grimes—formerly LSU’s offensive line coach and run game coordinator (2014–2017). “We were more wide zone in 2024,” Neal explained. “In years past, we were more of a balanced attack. We ran a plethora of different schemes: wide zone, gap, and play-action out of pro-style sets.”
Saints star Alvin Kamara is the franchise’s all-time leading rusher with 6,779 yards and trails Marques Colston (72 total touchdowns) by a dozen scores. Kamara also has 573 receptions for 4,762 yards and 25 touchdowns. He turns 30 on July 25 and, with 1,543 career carries, may begin to take a few plays off.
Kellen Moore’s Super Bowl-winning Philadelphia Eagles favored a run-heavy approach, with Saquon Barkley rushing for 2,005 yards and 13 touchdowns. Devin Neal’s eyes widened as he considered the possibilities. “I’m definitely excited,” he said as he counted down the days to training camp. “I know they love to run the football. I’m excited to get under (Kellen Moore), learn from the coaches, get my feet wet, and find out what it takes to be a good back in the NFL.”
