LAS VEGAS (KSNT) - Devin Neal is, in many ways, the face of KU football.
Neal carried the ball more than 200 times in 2023 and found the end zone on 17 occasions. It's not secret: The Lawrence, Kansas native will get a bulk of the carries out of the Jayhawks' back field.
In the era of the transfer portal, it's rare for a player to stay in a program where they know another guy might get the ball more. Daniel Hishaw did just that. Averaging more than five yards per carry in 2023, and scoring eight times, the Jayhawk running back more than proved he's good enough to start for a number of DI programs.
He could've gone to a place where he'd be the main guy at his position. Instead, he stayed loyal to KU.
"In general, I just think he wants to be a part of this special team," Neal said of Hishaw. "He knows he has a role as much as I have a role. He knows that we're a one-two punch as much as I know we're a one-two punch. There's no jealously in our room. Everyone wants to see each other win. I have no doubt in my mind that [Daniel Hishaw] can play in the NFL, he's proven that he can stay in the NFL. It's really unique in that way, it's probably not common in most rooms."
Neal won't be complaining about splitting some reps with KU's other impressive running back. Besides getting a break on occasion to stay fresh, he knows opponents have to prepare differently knowing they have multiple options out of the back field.
Lance Leipold says fans might see the duo on the field at the same time more often in 2024, compared to previous seasons. Hishaw understands he'll get plenty of opportunities, look no further than 121 carries in 2023, and can just focus on improving his craft.
"That's the nice thing I've seen with Daniel, is his maturity and understanding," Leipold said. "Sometimes, through time, you understand, 'I'm competing more against myself to be the best player I can be, in a way to help this team.' Let's face it, at the next level they evaluate it on their own terms."
Leipold pointed out that if Hishaw is healthy and effective, NFL teams will take notice no matter where he falls on the depth chart. KU's quarterback says this mindset goes beyond the running back room.
"I've always said that our offense is an unselfish offense," Jalon Daniels said. "When you look at our receiver room, we have three guys who are able to play at power five programs. And they're here, still to this day, ready to go out there and play ball. So when we're talking about unselfishness, that's one of the key words of our offense. When your opportunity is given you go out there and play ball."
As for Hishaw's ceiling:
"A healthy Daniel Hishaw? Speed, power, ability- to me, he'll rank with anybody," Leipold said.
