Devin Neal had a largely successful four-year collegiate career with the Kansas Jayhawks. He is projected to be a Day 3 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. However, some projections have him being selected at the end of Day 2. Take a look at everything you need to know about the two-time second-team All-Big 12 member ahead of this week’s draft.
How Tall Is Devin Neal and How Much Does He Weigh?
Devin Neal measured 5’11” at the NFL Scouting Combine, which is slightly taller than the average NFL running back’s 5’10” in 2024.
He weighed 213 pounds, which is slightly lighter than the average NFL running back’s 215 pounds in 2024.
How Old Is Devin Neal?
Neal was born on Aug. 12, 2003, so he is 21 years old and will be 22 when his rookie season begins.
While he played four seasons of college football, he remains relatively young for a rookie.
What School Did Devin Neal Attend?
Neal was born and raised in Lawrence, Kansas, and played high school football at Lawrence High School. He spent all four seasons of his collegiate career playing for the hometown Kansas Jayhawks. The running back chose to play for the Jayhawks over offers from Iowa, Kansas State, Nebraska, and Oklahoma State.
How Fast Was Devin Neal’s 40-Yard Dash?
Neal’s 40-yard dash time at the NFL Combine was less than impressive. His 4.58-second time ranked 21st out of 24 running back prospects.
He had a better showing with his 37.5″ vertical jump, which ranked ninth at his position. The former Jayhawks running back did not participate in the bench press.
Revisiting Devin Neal’s College Career
Neal joined the Jayhawks in the 2021 recruiting class as a four-star prospect. He eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing mark in each of his final three seasons, while scoring at least eight rushing touchdowns in every season, including 16 touchdowns in each of his final two years.
All in all, he recorded 4,343 rushing yards and 49 touchdowns on 760 carries. Neal added 711 receiving yards and four touchdowns on 77 receptions. He set the school record for both rushing yards and touchdowns.
The star running back gained national attention in the final home game of his collegiate career as he had a monster performance on national television to spoil the Colorado Buffaloes’ College Football Playoff chances. He finished with 207 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 37 carries, adding 80 receiving yards and one touchdown on four receptions.
Devin Neal’s NFL Draft Projection
Depending on who you ask, Neal’s high level of production at the collegiate level either gives him a large sample size of tape to work with or means he enters the NFL with some tread on his tires.
Either way, there’s no denying Neal is an electric runner. He has home-run potential at the next level, which he displayed through his 115 career runs that went 10+ yards. He’s explosive in the open field and shifty when evading defenders, making him a difficult player to catch up to and wrap up properly. His agility has also helped him out as a pass-catcher in the past.
A lack of significant play strength limits Neal a bit, making it tougher to project him as a consistent tackle-breaker in the pros. He’s hardly the battering ram type that teams will go to in goal-line situations. Though he has gotten better as a receiver, he can still fall victim to drops. That, along with his struggles in pass protection, hurts his value on passing downs.
Neal projects best as a change-of-pace back at the next level who can spell a stronger starter with his athleticism and creativity. That type of player makes him an early Day 3 value.
