A former Kansas football legend made his mark on the NFL this past Sunday. Lawrence native and Jayhawk fan favorite Devin Neal scored his first NFL touchdown on Sunday. The running back tallied 84 total yards and a touchdown to help his team, the New Orleans Saints, pick up a 24-20 road win vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Neal was the first Jayhawk to be selected in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Saints took a shot on the Kansas native with the 184th overall pick. He has received 50 carries this season and rushed for 178 yards. With current Saints running back Alvin Kamara sitting at 30 years old, Neal could cement himself as the running back of the future.
Neal took on the role of the primary running back this past week while Kamara was sidelined due to a knee injury. The rookie running back had his best performance of the season and may see more opportunities in the future, especially since Kamara is currently listed as questionable. Neal and the Saints are set to face Carolina in Week 15.