Kansas Jayhawks running backs Devin Neal and Daniel Hishaw are a nightmare for college football defenses.
If you’re a fan of the NFL more so than college football, then you probably think that running backs don’t really matter. While that may hold some weight in the big leagues, a dynamic backfield can boost a college team’s offense in a big way. Luckily for the Kansas football team, they have a two-headed monster at running back that is ready to run all over the Big 12.
Devin Neal
Devin Neal is one of the best returning backs in the entire country. He is coming off a season where he eclipsed 1,200 rushing yards on more than six yards per carry, while collecting 16 touchdowns. Many speculated that Neal would leave for the NFL after that performance. However, he decided to return for his senior season, and Jayhawk Nation is incredibly thankful.
The Lawrence native has become a fan favorite during his time with the Jayhawks. Neal needs just 765 rushing yards to become the all-time leading rusher in school history. Considering he has eclipsed that number in each of the past two seasons (and was just 58 yards shy as a freshman), he should have no trouble reaching that number before the season is over.
Neal is also six touchdowns shy of becoming the school’s all-time leader in that category. Having averaged 12 scores per season in his career (including 17 last season), that should also be Neal’s record by season’s end. Yet while Neal gets all the shine and praise, behind him is another great running back.
Daniel Hishaw
Daniel Hishaw doesn’t get the same recognition as Neal, but his per-touch numbers rival that of his counterpart. On just over half the touches, Hishaw accumulated more than 600 yards on the ground. If he had the same workload as Neal, he would likely be a 1,000-yard rusher. Instead, he serves as the thunder to Neal’s lightning.
The duo scored a touchdown every 13.5 carries, which is incredible considering they combined for nearly 25 carries per game. With Jalon Daniels running the offense instead of Jason Bean, that number could go up even more in 2024.
The Rest of the RB Room
Behind that powerful one-two punch is a former four-star recruit. Sevion Morrison was the 23rd ranked running back coming out of high school, before transferring from Nebraska to Kansas after his freshman season. While his usage is negligible (just 33 carries in his two years at Kansas), he has averaged over seven yards per touch.
Ideally, Morrison seems limited work again in 2024. That means Neal and Hishaw stayed healthy and that would be very good for the KU offense. However, if Neal or Hishaw were to miss any time, Morrison could do a serviceable job stepping into some sort of split workload.
The Kansas offense is projected to be one of the most dynamic in college football this season. The running back room led by Neal and Hishaw are a big reason why. If they have seasons similar to 2023, then Daniels will have plenty of room to operate in the passing game. That’s a very good thing for Kansas.
