The Kansas Jayhawks got welcome news before playing UNLV in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl on Tuesday night in Phoenix, as star running back Devin Neal told the coaching staff he would return to the team in 2024, ESPN reported.
An All-Big 12 second-team selection, the true junior (5-foot-11, 215 pounds) had debated declaring for the NFL draft.
In 12 games (10 starts) in the regular season, Neal rushed for 1,209 yards and 15 touchdowns on 183 carries for an average of 6.6 yards per carry and 100.8 yards per game. He also caught 24 passes for 214 yards and one touchdown.
In the Jayhawks’ 49-36 victory over the Rebels on Tuesday night, Neal ran for 71 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries.
In 37 games (31 starts) over three seasons, Neal has rushed for 3,077 yards and 33 TDs on 541 carries. He ranks fourth in program history for career rushing yards — passing Laverne Smith during the Guaranteed Rate Bowl — and third in rushing TDs.
Neal, whose hometown is Lawrence, Kan., would have a shot at becoming the Jayhawks’ all-time leader, as June Henley’s 3,841 yards and 41 touchdowns are within range.
By beating UNLV, the Jayhawks (9-4) got their first bowl victory since beating Minnesota 42-21 in the 2008 Insight Bowl. UNLV (9-5) has not won a bowl game since the 2000 Las Vegas Bowl.
