With Kansas football in the Liberty Bowl, Devin Neal is glad to ‘bring some joy back to Lawrence’

MEMPHIS — Devin Neal tries not to think too much about any responsibility he might feel, being a Lawrence native, to lead Kansas football to a win Wednesday.

Neal, a sophomore running back for the Jayhawks, thinks that would put unnecessary pressure on himself ahead of the Liberty Bowl matchup in Memphis against Arkansas. At the end of the day, he knows his family and friends want to see him happy more than anything else. And so, he looks to avoid those kinds of thoughts, so he can just enjoy the game.

But it means a lot to Neal to have this opportunity. This is Kansas’ first bowl game since 2008. There have been people around Lawrence, especially friends and family, coming up to him because it matters to them as well.

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“They’re just so excited,” Neal said. “I know a lot of people are coming up to travel, a bunch of my best friends growing up, and their support means everything to me. I’m going to spend some time with them here later on, too, and tomorrow, too. So, I’m feeling really excited and I’m glad to be able to bring some joy back to Lawrence with this team.”

Jayhawks offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki said Neal has been doing well, and that the extended break from the regular season finale has been good for him. Considering the number of snaps Neal played, much like senior safety Kenny Logan Jr., the time off allowed them to get Neal some rest. They could spoon-feed the game-plan to Neal, in a sense, as they built his reps back up.

Kotelnicki added Monday’s practice was Neal’s fastest day since the end of the regular season finale, which only bodes well for Kansas’ chances against the Razorbacks. Neal is the Jayhawks’ leading rusher, at 1,061 yards on the ground. And he’s fifth among Kansas players in receptions.

Neal isn’t the only player from Kansas on the Jayhawks’ roster. If he needs someone to talk to about what he’s feeling, there are options. Senior tight end Mason Fairchild and redshirt sophomore tight end Jared Casey are two of them.

“Mason and Jared and those guys, on our team, it felt a little different for us in the K-State game just because it meant a little more,” Neal said. “And I think they have a different perspective, too, because a lot of people on the team — they weren’t looking at Kansas until they were being recruited. But we were looking at Kansas as fans. And so, seeing the ups and downs that way and wanting to do anything we can to change it brings out a little bit more perspective, a little bit more hunger I think. Everyone’s hungry, of course, but it just feels a little bit different.”

On the other sideline, Arkansas redshirt senior defensive back Simeon Blair can understand where Neal is coming from. Blair is from Pine Bluff, Arkansas. He’s been a part of the rise the Razorbacks have enjoyed in recent years under head coach Sam Pittman.

Just like Neal grew up watching Kansas, Blair grew up watching Arkansas. Just like Neal has memories of watching Jayhawks games with friends from high up in the stands, Blair can remember when Arkansas was able to reach the Sugar Bowl years ago. They can each go out and play with their home state on their chest, something Blair goes to an end zone before every game to pray about because he’s so thankful.

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Blair wants to beat Kansas. He wants to be the one celebrating a victory. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have an idea of the reaction Neal and the Jayhawks would have if the game goes the other way.

“It’s going to mean the world to that team, because last year was our first time getting back to a bowl game and we won. It felt like we was on top of the world,” Blair said. “It felt like we had just won the Super Bowl. … It’ll motivate them for the next year, also. It’ll make them want that feeling back.”

Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: KU's Neal glad to ‘bring some joy back to Lawrence’ with Liberty Bowl