2025 Rookie Profile: RB Devin Neal (Fantasy Football)

There is no shortage of draftable RBs in the 2025 NFL Draft, and Devin Neal from Kansas is another young man hoping to make a name for himself. A hometown Kansas boy through and through, Neal grew up in Lawrence, attended Lawrence High School, and committed to play for the University of Kansas. Neal was a four-star recruit, committing to play both baseball and football as a Jayhawk. He turned down offers from Iowa, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, and Kansas State to stay close to home.

Let’s take a look at Neal’s collegiate production profile, his measurables, and his film to get an idea of what he could look like in the NFL.

Editor’s Note: This article is part of our Rookie Profile series going on until the 2025 NFL Draft. For more on each rookie, check out Andy, Mike, and Jason’s exclusive rookie rankings and production profiles found only in the Dynasty Pass, part of the UDK+ for 2025.

College Production Profile

Neal started at Kansas in 2021, following a 0-9 season in 2020 for the Jayhawks. Nowhere to go but up, right? Neal did what he could during his first year and helped the team improve to two wins. Neal began to come into his own as a sophomore, helping the team reach 6-7 and secure a berth in the Liberty Bowl, their first bowl game since 2008. Neal continued on an upward trajectory in the 2023 season, hitting double-digit TDs (16 on the ground), which helped the team finish the season ranked 9-4 for the first time since 2007. Neal chose to return for his final year at Kansas, and the program saw a decline, but by then, it was clear that the man had a future in the NFL.

In his four years at Kansas, he was an Honorable Mention All-Big 12 Conference selection for three years and a second-team All-Big 12 selection in a fourth. He led his team in rushing yards in all four years, and by the time he put a pin in his college career, he had become the first Kansas player to rush for 1000 yards in three seasons. He was a team captain in his senior year and broke school records for career rushing TDs, rushing yards, and 100-yard games.

When you look up Kansas Jayhawk football, you will see a picture of Devin Neal in the dictionary.

Measurables

Neal comes in at a good size for an NFL RB, just a couple of pounds shy of the NFL RB1 average weight of 219 lbs, but if he could put on a few pounds before draft day, I think that could help his stock. He isn’t the fastest – more on that later – but the Combine results of the vertical and broad jump are solid enough to demonstrate the explosiveness we see on the field. The breakout age is the number that jumps out the most here – he has the youngest breakout age of the prospects on the website.

What’s On Tape 

Games Viewed: Illinois (2023), Nevada (2023), Texas (2023), UNLV (2024), Colorado (2024)

1. He is a workhorse back.

In a world where NFL teams are constantly looking for a dependable RB who can shoulder the load, Neal demonstrated his ability to be a workhorse back during his time at Kansas. With only one season in which he clocked less than 1000 yards on the ground, he suited up for at least 11 games every season in college. He has a 34% dominator rating on the website (share of team total yards and TDs per game) for his senior year, accounting for 49% of the team’s rushing attempts and yardage. 

He wasn’t too far off usage-wise during the rest of his college career either. Over his first three college seasons, he averaged just over 40% of the rushing attempts for Kansas and just over 46% of the rushing yardage. The things that brought down his overall dominator rating for those three years? His receiving work, which did peak in his final year.

The only concern for Neal might be that he is coming into the NFL, perhaps slightly overused. But the man is durable, even with that significant workload; he started 40 consecutive games over his final three seasons without missing time due to injury. Just call him Mr. Dependable.

2. Great vision and patience.

While watching Neal, there were several times where I thought he was stuffed on a run, and then I realized he was slowing down because he saw something, and was allowing the play and blockers to develop. You can see Neal process and quickly move his feet and body to get into the best position to succeed. He can change direction fluidly, showcasing his lateral agility, as seen in this play from his game against Illinois.

3. Versatile on the field.

We have talked about Neal’s solid and consistent rushing ability, but his use in the receiving game might be a part of his repertoire that could be flushed out nicely in the NFL. He showed an upward trajectory in his receiving game, with an average of 8.1 yards per reception in 2021, to a solid 10.6 in his senior year. He was targeted 31 times in 2024, and that is nowhere as high as the likes of LeQuint Allen, but it still puts him in the top 20 among RBs in his draft class. Let’s get this man running some more routes, shall we?

Devin Neal was a weapon out of the backfield at Kansas

Neal might have one of the most complete three-down skill sets in the #NFLDraft2025 RB class https://t.co/RLodlJey0A pic.twitter.com/eFDWtOg8WB

— Jacob Gibbs (@jagibbs_23) April 6, 2025

4. Takes ball security seriously.

If Neal gets the ball, chances are he’s holding onto it. He is a dependable ball carrier, completely aware of how to guard the football to battle against potential swipes and punch-outs from the defense. High and tight isn’t just a haircut. Neal only had four fumbles on 760 college career carries.

What’s Not On Tape

1. He is not a burner with high-end speed.

Devin Neal will not beat the defense with high-end speed; this is evident in his Combine numbers, as well as his playing speed on the field. Neal can accelerate quickly enough – you can see him stop and start quite well, but he often gets caught at the end of sneaky runs. In this play against Colorado, Neal has a fantastic carry that should have gone for a TD if he had had a little more speed.

2. Good football IQ and a solid teammate.

What Neal lacks in pure athleticism, he makes up for in brains. He is patient, reading the defense and allowing his blocks to develop. It feels like he knows where he is lacking, and therefore works smarter, not harder, to make the most of what is given to him. There is something to say about a hometown guy who stayed all four years at a program to give it his all, even in times of questionable team success. Neal is the type of player you will never have to question when it comes to work ethic, play knowledge, and overall dedication to the team.

Check out what Marvin Elequin had to say about Neal’s solid performance.

Devin Neal – Kansas, RB

Neal could have declared last year & likely would have been a top 3 RB in the 2024 class

Instead, he returned for his Senior year and produced an 85th-percentile campaign – setting career highs across the board pic.twitter.com/rByEdRNOdV

— Marvin Elequin (@FF_MarvinE) January 21, 2025

Fantasy Outlook

Devin Neal is a very good football player. Consistent, well-rounded, and strong, he truly could be a dependable three-down back for any NFL team that drafts him. He just isn’t that showy, and hey, that’s fine. How many years have fantasy managers seen Joe Mixon on the draft board, begrudgingly pulled the trigger while hiding a yawn, and then been incredibly content with his consistent (but boring) production? Every RB on your fantasy roster need not be De’Von Achane. Look, our blood pressure wouldn’t be able to handle that. 

NFLMockdraftdatabase.com currently has Neal as the 11th RB coming off the board, going in the fourth or fifth round. The site mocks him frequently to the Patriots, supplementing Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson. New England offers excellent potential for Neal to quickly become the RB2. I think Neal’s ability to pass protect will help him get on the field as a rookie, and he seems like the competent backup that fantasy managers will rush to the waiver wire to grab if the starter goes down. Wherever Neal goes, I think he can and will contribute right away.