Looking at one of the more intriguing prospects at Kansas City’s recent local pro day.

One of the more intriguing players who participated in the Kansas City Chiefs’ local pro day last week is Kansas running back Devin Neal.

While David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium in Lawrence underwent renovations in 2024, Neal and the Jayhawks played their home games last season at Arrowhead. Could his home on Sundays also be a short drive east on I-70 from his college campus?

Here’s what to know about Neal:

Background

Kansas’ starting running back for most of the past four seasons will need no introduction to much of Chiefs Kingdom. The product of Lawrence High School stayed local by committing to KU as a three-star recruit in 2021. Four years later, he enters the draft as the school’s all-time leader in rushing yards (4,343) and total touchdowns (53).

Devin Neal is a RB prospect in the 2025 draft class. He scored a 6.65 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 705 out of 2099 RB from 1987 to 2025.https://t.co/cysdy6wRc5 pic.twitter.com/XHbyqpwwiR

— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) April 8, 2025

After the season, Neal was invited to the Senior Bowl and attended the NFL Scouting Combine. In Indianapolis, Neal measured at 5 feet 11 and weighed 213 pounds. His solid, if unspectacular, 4.58-second time in the 40-yard dash is mitigated by outstanding numbers in both the vertical (37.5 inches) and broad jumps (10 feet and four inches).

Film evaluation

Over four seasons, Neal proved capable of handling a heavy workload. His long runs are plentiful, generally showing great vision and decisiveness — as this clip from last season against Colorado shows:

This play pretty much sums up Kansas RB Devin Neal. He sees the hold and instantly makes perfect change of direction decisions. He has solid speed to turn this into a big play. Not having the extra gear to get away from Colorado's Shilo Sanders stops it from being a home run. pic.twitter.com/mxAcjZg3WZ

— Jared Sapp (@TrumanChief) April 13, 2025

Neal sees the hole and takes the ball for an almost 30-yard gain. He clearly looks primed to exploit whatever opening the Buffalo defense left him. Despite eventually gaining 207 rushing yards against Colorado for the second-highest output of his college career, Neal’s lack of game-breaking speed shows as he is taken down from behind by the safety. This raises the question of his ceiling against NFL competition.

Among the Chiefs’ highest priorities as the offseason program begins should be getting their running backs more involved in the passing game. Neal would certainly raise the floor as a pass catcher out of the backfield, both on downfield routes and some of the screens and wheel routes common to head coach Andy Reid’s best seasons calling offensive plays.

Assuming the Chiefs attack the RB position in the draft, they have to find a way to get backs more involved in the passing game. Neal runs a nice route here to catch a downfield pass. pic.twitter.com/BQtDv2C8tk

— Jared Sapp (@TrumanChief) April 13, 2025

Overall, Neal is a competent back with a chance to have a solid career. His intelligence during the play will endear him to coaches. Even when a play is blown up, he almost always can fall forward to gain a yard or two, and he is outstanding at taking care of the football. Per Dane Brugler of The Athletic, Neal only fumbled twice over the final 502 carries of his college career.

What you have to love about Neal is that he always moves forward, and he always takes care of the ball. Only one fumble each of the past two seasons over 471 touches.

When he is going down, you almost always see him protect the ball with both hands. pic.twitter.com/fiAb70BvWc

— Jared Sapp (@TrumanChief) April 13, 2025

One area that Neal has likely spent the last few weeks addressing with teams is his instincts in pass protection. Even during the same game, as last season against Iowa State, his efforts picking up the rush range from unacceptable to routine. Performance as shown in the first clip will likely see him scratched from game day rosters and eventually cut from the team. In the second opportunity, he executes the block, giving the quarterback time to make a pass, despite the eventual drop.

While he may hear his name called late on the draft’s second day, Neal will probably be selected early on Day 3. An unfortunate side of the draft process is that teams must weigh long-term health projections. It is very possible that touching the ball 837 times over four seasons in Lawrence will negatively affect the length of Neal’s career. Though he was unbelievably reliable in college, his frequent short runs through the middle will eventually take a toll on his body.

Devin Neal should have no problem being a productive NFL back if provided good blocking. The one thing you have to worry about is the amount of usage already on his body. 837 touches over the past four seasons. Some big plays, but a lot of short runs through the middle. pic.twitter.com/Xea4Qxh3VL

— Jared Sapp (@TrumanChief) April 13, 2025

The bottom line

Neal has a great chance to become a solid, two-down back at the NFL level, assuming his body can continue the workload shown at Kansas. Whether he can stay on the field in obvious passing situations will depend on a team’s trust that he can handle the blitz and what ceiling he demonstrates as a pass catcher.

With in-house options, Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt only signed through 2025, and both frequently facing health concerns, the Chiefs are widely expected to draft at least one running back later this month.

Neal would certainly find a fit in Kansas City’s offense, and the local favorite would have a strong chance to enter 2026 as the team’s undisputed starting running back. He would also arguably be an underwhelming solution to the team’s rushing attack going forward, as he shares many of the limitations that sometimes leave fans frustrated with Pacheco and Hunt.

One of the more interesting draft questions for Kansas City will be if the team seeks a high-volume player like Neal to eventually replace the incumbents or a more dynamic part-time option to better complement the existing in-house talent.