Kansas football running back Devin Neal to return for senior season, ESPN report says

The wait is finally over.

Star Kansas running back and Lawrence native Devin Neal is returning to KU for the 2024 season, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported on Tuesday, citing multiple unnamed sources.

The report says Neal informed the KU coaching staff of his decision to return, though it did not say when. The news broke mere hours before Kansas (9-4, 5-4 Big 12) defeated UNLV 49-36 in a wild Guaranteed Rate Bowl.

A source close to Neal could not confirm the news as of Tuesday evening. KU coach Lance Leipold also declined comment on Neal’s status after the victory.

“I think that’s the question for Devin,” Leipold said. “I’ll defer those to him.”

Neal made several Instagram posts in the hours before the bowl game, first sharing a picture of him playing football with three sad faces. Not long after that, Neal posted an Instagram story with a caption that read, “Relax, we going.”

The speculation of whether Neal would depart for the NFL Draft or return to Kansas for his senior season started midway through his stellar junior season.

Neal ran for 1,209 yards on 183 carries, averaging 6.6 yards per carry with 15 touchdowns in the regular season. He landed on the All-Big 12 second team.

Now, he’s closing in on history.

Neal ran for 71 yards and a touchdown in the bowl-game victory. With 3,077 career rushing yards, Neal is 764 yards shy of tying the all-time career mark at KU. June Henley holds the current title with 3,841 yards.

The Star spoke to Neal about possibly turning pro during KU’s media day for the Guaranteed Rate Bowl on Sunday. Neal told The Star that he remained undecided about the decision.

Neal’s parents, Freda and Ryan McPhail, told The Star in December that they’d carefully evaluate the running backs of the last few NFL Draft classes to help Neal make his decision.

For Neal, he was having more fun this season than ever before.

“It’s special, Neal said on Sunday. “You can say that you want to do this — you want to achieve your dream — but to actually be a part of the special group, it’s really cool. ...

“I know it means a lot to the older guys who’ve been through a lot in this program. I’m just glad everyone got to experience this. Even for the freshmen, that they don’t have to experience what was in the past, too.”