Devin Neal 2025 NFL Draft Profile

Devin Neal 2025 NFL Draft Profile

This running back class is so loaded. Who knows how high Devin Neal went a year ago but this year, he has almost no buzz entering this process. Today, hence the title, we’re going to be talking about why you should and shouldn’t be a fan of Neal. Sooooo without further ado, here is your 2025 NFL Draft profile on the Kansas running back!

NFL Draft Stock Report: Week 3, Week 13, Senior Bowl (3), Game

Neal, 21, was a four star recruit coming out of high school. Something you may not expect from a guy who went to Kansas. However, the Lawrence, Kansas native was the 14th-ranked running back during the 2021 cycle. He spent all four years with the Jayhawks and was a factor in their offense since pretty much day one.

The 5-foot-11, 213, Kansas product rushed for over 700 yards and eight scores at a 4.5 YPC clip as a freshman. The next three years he recorded over 1,000 yards in all of them. The last two years, Neal popped off 16 rushing touchdowns each season. Oh, and he was over 200 receiving yards each of the last two seasons, too. Neal was incredibly consistent with Kansas and finished his career with a 5.7 YPC clip.

If you watched the Colorado game (available for you in the stock notes at the top) it’s easy to fall for Neal. He has some traits that feel like they matter. He handled a big workload well despite being a small back. Neal can catch the ball and has reliable hands. Over the last two years, the Kansas product has just three drops and two fumbles. Not perfect but he passes the test there. He runs pretty low to the ground and can make cuts while being tough in short yardage. Again, I get the intrigue.

The problem is, I also have Ke’Shawn Vaughn PTSD watching this guy. What if he’s just not explosive to be a thing? Am I willing to take that risk when there are 15 other running backs in this class whom I don’t have that concern with? A 4.58 at the Combine with a 1.59 10-yard time isn’t exactly ideal. His overall Combine performance wasn’t anything special. I thought it was very hit and miss with a lot of average mixed in. Ditto for the Senior Bowl performance, where I thought he was fine but never wowed me.

Maybe that’s part of the problem. Can you name a single trait that Neal has that’s elite? If you’re going to be a slower back, you have to have something special about you. We found out quickly that trait for Kyren Williams is pass pro. He has some contact balance, but I don’t see that same physical presence with Neal.

Not to mention the fact that 750 carries entering the NFL isn’t exactly a small number.

I have a late round grade on Devin Neal. I would probably be willing to take him in the 6th or 7th rounder. Honestly, may answer may be different if he’s in last year’s class but there’s so many damn studs in this class that he’s just not super high on my list. I don’t hate him but I don’t see a ton of special here.

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