'I couldn't leave this team': Why Devin Neal put NFL on hold for one more year at KU

LAWRENCE (KSNT) - Missing out on what KU football's program is building ahead of the 2024 season is not something Devin Neal had much interest in.

Back in January, the KU running back chose to return for his fourth and final year as a Jayhawk rather than testing the NFL draft waters. Now, he joins K-Nation in a one-on-one interview to explain that decision further.

"I couldn't really leave this team," he said. "There's a special thing going on here, and I believe we have a lot of greatness ahead for us, and I want to be a part of that. And I know that if I went into future routes in the NFL, I'd look back one day and probably regret that. And I didn't want to feel that way, and I wanted to come back and be a part of that team for sure."

The Lawrence native had conversations with his family, but also with mentors like head coach Lance Leipold, running backs coach Johnathan Wallace and former OC Andy Kotelnicki, about declaring for the 2024 NFL draft.

For Neal, it came down to a 'heart-felt decision.' He said going through the draft process is like 'a shot in the dark,' saying he felt more comfortable playing out his senior year at KU and continuing to improve his game.

"I want to continue getting better in pass protection of course," Neal said. "I want to show the ability to catch the ball more out of the backfield and line up in the slot and do certain things like that as well. I think those are really important things to show, not only for this team but to show for an NFL back. Those are the types of things they're required to do, and I wanted to be at the highest level I can be going into the NFL."

Neal also discusses the pursuing those goals within new offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes' offense, the potential for KU's running back room in 2024 and more.

The full interview with Neal can be watched above. Click here for more K-Nation content.