The New Orleans Saints didn't exactly rush to add depth to their running back room, but they landed a highly productive player in Kansas RB Devin Neal.
The Saints selected the Jayhawks standout at No. 184 overall after waiting through the 5th round without a pick. They made a pair of 4th round selections earlier in the draft between Oklahoma LB Danny Stutsman (112) and Louisville CB Quincy Riley (131).
"I'm so excited. I'm fired up. I'm honored and it's a dream come true," Neal told WWL. "I'm excited to do whatever it takes to win a Super Bowl in New Orleans, that's for sure."
The 5'11", 215-pound Neal was a 4-star recruit out of Lawrence High School, where he rushed for 1,327 yards and 20 touchdowns as a senior and chose to stay home and play for Kansas, though he told reporters he was excited to finally head elsewhere.
Hear WWL's exclusive interview with Devin Neal in the player above. Can't see the embed? Click here.
Neal made an immediate impact as a freshman in 2021, rushing for 707 yards and eight touchdowns and becoming the first KU freshman to earn Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week. His sophomore year saw him roll up 1,090 yards and nine touchdowns, including a 224-yard rushing, 110-yard receiving game against Oklahoma State.
The production only climbed over his final two seasons, with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons with 16 rushing TDs each year. Neal broke the Jayhawks' career rushing (4,343 yards) and touchdown (49) and had a four-touchdown performance against Colorado.
The pick marks the fourth Senior Bowl player selected, with Neal coached by current Saints RBs coach Joel Thomas, who was a member of the Giants coaching staff at that point.
Neal's favorite running back is Adrian Peterson and describes himself as a patient, all-around runner. He becomes the Saints' 6th pick of the draft and the third on offense along with Texas OT Kelvin Banks Jr. (9) and Louisville QB Tyler Shough (40). The Saints still have a pair of 7th round picks to make.
