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During Day 3 of the 2025 NFL draft, the New Orleans Saints used a sixth round choice on Kansas Jayhawks running back Devin Neal. Expected to go in an earlier round, Neal had surprisingly slid to early in the next-to-last round before the Saints pounced. He was viewed as a potential steal for a team that had struggled to find a viable backfield complement to Alvin Kamara over recent seasons.
Neal had played all four of his collegiate seasons at Kansas, an increasing rarity. He rushed for 4,343 yards over those four years, catching 77 passes for an additional 711 yards and scoring 53 total touchdowns. Neal left as the Jayhawks all-time leader in career rushing yards and scores. He had three straight years of over 1,000 rushing yards, including over 1,200 yards and 16 touchdowns in each of his last two seasons. Here's how his first year in the NFL panned out.
To start the season, Neal was entrenched behind Alvin Kamara and Kendre Miller in the New Orleans backfield. His touches were extremely limited, getting two rushing attempts in the opening week then not seeing action again until Week 6. A season-ending injury to Miller opened the door for the rookie. Neal still had only 17 carries for 61 yards through Week 12, but was earning more time because of his impressive abilities to pick up the blitz.
Kamara left a Week 12 loss against Atlanta with what turned out to be a season-ending injury. That opened the door even further for Neal to get more opportunities. He'd start the next three contests, rushing for 47 yards against the Dolphins and a game-high 70 yards in a win over the Buccaneers. That would be the third-highest rushing total for a New Orleans back on the season. Neal ran for 28 yards the following week against the Panthers, but would also sustain a hamstring injury that knocked him out for the final three games.
Devin Neal had 57 carries for 206 yards and 2 touchdowns, adding 17 receptions for 104 yards. He ran with force and authority despite poor blocking up front and also impressed coaches with his blitz pickup skills. Neal figures to be a bigger part of the Saints backfield plans as he heads into Year 2 of his career.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Saints 2025 Year in Review: Devin Neal flashed potential as a rookie
Continue reading...
Neal had played all four of his collegiate seasons at Kansas, an increasing rarity. He rushed for 4,343 yards over those four years, catching 77 passes for an additional 711 yards and scoring 53 total touchdowns. Neal left as the Jayhawks all-time leader in career rushing yards and scores. He had three straight years of over 1,000 rushing yards, including over 1,200 yards and 16 touchdowns in each of his last two seasons. Here's how his first year in the NFL panned out.
Devin Neal Year in Review
- Position: Running back
- Age: 22
- Height: 5-feet, 11 inches
- Weight: 213 pounds
- NFL experience: 1st year
- 2025 season: 10 games (3 starts)
To start the season, Neal was entrenched behind Alvin Kamara and Kendre Miller in the New Orleans backfield. His touches were extremely limited, getting two rushing attempts in the opening week then not seeing action again until Week 6. A season-ending injury to Miller opened the door for the rookie. Neal still had only 17 carries for 61 yards through Week 12, but was earning more time because of his impressive abilities to pick up the blitz.
Kamara left a Week 12 loss against Atlanta with what turned out to be a season-ending injury. That opened the door even further for Neal to get more opportunities. He'd start the next three contests, rushing for 47 yards against the Dolphins and a game-high 70 yards in a win over the Buccaneers. That would be the third-highest rushing total for a New Orleans back on the season. Neal ran for 28 yards the following week against the Panthers, but would also sustain a hamstring injury that knocked him out for the final three games.
Devin Neal had 57 carries for 206 yards and 2 touchdowns, adding 17 receptions for 104 yards. He ran with force and authority despite poor blocking up front and also impressed coaches with his blitz pickup skills. Neal figures to be a bigger part of the Saints backfield plans as he heads into Year 2 of his career.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Saints 2025 Year in Review: Devin Neal flashed potential as a rookie
Continue reading...
