Why Devin Neal has more in store in Year 2 with Kansas football — and baseball

LAWRENCE — More than anything, Freda McPhail felt the biggest challenge was ensuring her son remained true to himself while also finding time to be a kid.

McPhail, whose son Devin Neal plays both football and baseball at Kansas, understood the difficulties of Neal managing the responsibilities of being a dual-sport athlete in college. Corresponding Sunday with The Topeka Capital-Journal, she wrote in a text message one sport is challenging enough and adding a second “is another story.” But it was important to McPhail that Neal find that time for himself.

So, as the fall of 2021 progressed and Neal’s freshmen football season with the Jayhawks continued, McPhail made an effort to remind her son to breathe. She saw him “practically living in the weight and film room,” as he became Kansas’ feature running back. And finally she saw her son, who she said enjoys a good PlayStation marathon, pick the controller back up in a way that provided her some peace and a sense of normalcy.

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“Honestly, in the beginning there was a lot of angst, because of all the unknowns,” McPhail wrote, reflecting on Neal’s freshman year. “However, seeing how Devin approached it all and how he remained committed to his goals, helped curve some of our nerves.”

Last week, during the Big 12 Conference’s media days for football in Arlington, Texas, Neal reaffirmed his commitment to playing both sports as a sophomore in the months ahead. As he discussed how the football team’s offense might look and other topics, he also explained the mindset behind that decision. While acknowledging how tough it was at times as a freshman, a love for competing in football and baseball dates back to his early childhood remains.

What that freshman year was like for Devin Neal

The statistics and accolades tell one part of the story.

In 11 appearances with the football team in the fall of 2021, Neal led the Jayhawks with 707 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns. One of the nation’s top-producing freshmen, Neal became an honorable mention honoree with the Big 12 who’s poised for more in 2022. Fans won’t soon forget the 143 yards and three touchdowns he ran for in the upset win against Texas, or the 26 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown he amassed in that as well.

In limited playing time with the baseball team in the spring of 2022, Neal collected some career firsts. An outfielder for these Jayhawks, he started for the first time on April 19 in left field. McPhail acknowledged they knew it would be a developmental season for Neal, who joined the team as a top-10 recruit in the sport in the state of Kansas — per Perfect Game and Prep Baseball Report — for the 2021 class.

But the other part of it all, is what Neal had to do to be in position to accomplish what he was able to. As Kansas football coach Lance Leipold explained during the Big 12’s media days last week, Neal didn’t miss a spring football practice this year while also taking a part in baseball activities when he could.

As Neal would explain, it’s a grind.

“The way I balanced it is, through a lot of communication, a lot of prayer and a lot of help, to be honest,” said Neal, the 247Sports Composite No. 1 football recruit for the state of Kansas’ 2021 recruiting class. “My story’s not alone. I don’t need to be the lone wolf. And so, I asked for a lot of help, talked to the right people and they helped me get through some things.”

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Neal felt humbled by the experience, which he’d say overall was great. He learned a lot about himself, as he pushed through various challenges. Because he loves football and baseball so much, he said he’s about to learn about himself through those sports.

Neal didn’t specify one moment over another, as the toughest. But he did highlight how tough the spring was. He was attempting to maintain what he could do for the football team, which certainly has added talent at his position by way of transfers, while also trying to perform in baseball and improve there.

“I’m going to keep going until my heart’s not in it anymore with those sports,” said Neal, who’s open to returning punts and kickoffs for the football team this fall as well if that’s what the team needs. “I’ve always told myself that, if I’m not happy doing something, don’t force yourself to do it. And like I said, if I’m not happy with doing either … I’m not going to do it anymore.”

McPhail, on if she learned anything about her son, wrote: “Devin did exactly what we knew he was capable of doing, but he took it several steps further. He overcame challenges with anxiety, all while learning on the job. Him being able to manage everything, demonstrate another level of maturity and  remain true to himself, was beyond impressive to me! I always knew and believed he could do it just because he has never shied away from a challenge that he is committed to!”

What might be in store for Devin Neal as a sophomore

Neal and McPhail each made some memories in the past year.

Although Neal didn’t play much during the baseball season, he still enjoyed watching his teammates compete against some of the best teams in the country during the Big 12 slate. There was that, in addition to bursting onto the scene — as Leipold put it — with the football team.

McPhail noted that Neal’s belief in the football team helped her believe, too. And with baseball, she enjoyed both the calmer season she felt that provided and moments like Neal’s first-ever stolen base.

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Across the upcoming seasons, while there’s the potential for even more memories to be made, there’s also a little uncertainty.

Neal’s inclusion as one of the representatives for Kansas’ football team at the Big 12’s media days last week illustrates the role he’s already been able to earn with that group, both as a talent and a leader. Senior safety Kenny Logan Jr., junior quarterback Jalon Daniels and super-senior offensive lineman Earl Bostick Jr., who were all there with Neal and Leipold, are projected starters in 2022. Leipold also praised Neal as mature beyond his years, and someone who’s passionate about turning that program around.

“To be able to do this so young, gives me a different outlook,” Neal said. “You see a bunch of the other guys here, and what they’ve been through at some pretty good programs too, and just talk on them a little bit, just learning about what makes a leader a leader, just because I’m still learning and that’s the ultimate goal for me is to become the best leader I can.”

Neal, though, is also dealing with another coaching change.

Prior to arriving on campus last year, Neal saw Leipold replace Les Miles. Then, after the baseball season ended earlier this year, then-head baseball coach Ritch Price retired and Dan Fitzgerald was hired in his place.

McPhail appreciated that Leipold was committed to supporting Neal’s desire to be a dual-sport athlete, and it doesn’t appear at the moment there’s any indication Fitzgerald won’t act the same way. But while Neal had only positive things to say about the members of the new baseball coaching staff, he also allowed that he’s taking a leap of faith with them. Although Neal said last week that he had yet to have a conversation with Fitzgerald, Neal did say he’s spoken with some of Fitzgerald’s assistants.

“It was just about personal stuff, not really anything about baseball yet,” said Neal, who feels he’s almost used to coaching changes at this point. “But just introduction-type conversations, and they were pretty outgoing guys, and I like them.”

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Neal added that he is playing summer baseball this year, and that it’s been a grind. Handling everything this summer has actually been tougher, he said, compared to how it was in the spring. But he remains devoted to it, as he tries to improve ahead of his sophomore season.

“For both sports, I hope he and his teammates stay hungry and enjoy more success,” McPhail wrote. “There are so many people rallying behind them, I hope both stadiums are packed with their supporters. Devin’s journey will be tough, but I hope he continues to give himself grace and stay true to himself. Regardless of the stats, he always makes me proud!”

Where this all could lead, years down the road

Neal was asked last week if there was a NFL team he’d like to play for, should he ever become a professional football player. And although he did say he’d be happy to play for anyone, just in case there were any people associated with the NFL listening, he said that he is a Kansas City Chiefs fan. But later on, he revealed his future as an athlete isn’t the only thing on his mind.

“I feel like one day my calling’s going to be help develop people, but it’s not going to be through sport,” Neal said. “… One day I want people to see themselves without sports. Because I feel like sometimes us athletes, we get wrapped around sports so bad that it becomes our identity and I don’t want that to be our main image — if that makes sense.”

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Neal’s words came in an answer to a question about how much he’s ever wanted to coach. They came after he said he thought a coach’s role was actually much more difficult than a player’s. As he’s said he wants to do something similar, but not necessarily connected to sports in that way.

Neal has a desire to help children develop, with activities like the Big 12’s “Kid Reporter” program. Seeing that was happening this year, excited him. He expressed an interest in the idea of taking kids to do things like that in the community, while making it clear he wasn’t saying that’s the situation of the kids in that Big 12 program.

Neal wasn’t quite sure what the genesis of that desire was, but thinks it might have been watching kids like his cousins or his little sister.

“I just want to see the best for them and I feel like kids should just be kids,” Neal said. “And I’ve seen one too many times where kids are put through too much pressure and stress to grow up, and I feel like I grew up at an early age, too, just because my circumstances. And I don’t want kids to go through that. So, I kind of think that’s where it kind of started for me.”

There’s never been a time recently, Neal said, when he’s thought football wasn’t for him. Neal, a Kansas City Royals fan when it comes to professional baseball, said he doesn’t favor one sport over the other. But when his time in sports as an athlete is over, whether that’s when he finishes his time in college at Kansas or a professional career, his path in life appears poised to take him elsewhere.

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: Devin Neal has more in store in Year 2 with Kansas football, baseball