Kansas' Running Backs Show Depth, Skill in Week-One Statement

All four Jayhawks backs made big plays against Missouri State in the season opener.

When the Kansas Jayhawks put up another 40+-point performance in a 48-17 win Friday over Missouri State in the 2023 opener, the offense provided plenty of areas worthy of praise. Jason Bean stepped up in a starting role. The offensive line didn’t give up a single sack. And multiple receivers stood out. But the group that stood out the most was the running backs.

That praise included a voice that would know a thing or two about what it takes to slow down a running attack.

“Man, they’re crazy with it. They’re nice,” senior linebacker Rich Miller said. “Like, going against them every day is just so fun. Seeing them do it against other people is even more fun.”

KU put up 245 yards on the ground against the Bears, rushing for 6.4 yards a carry and four rushing touchdowns. And those four touchdowns came from four different backs: Devin Neal, Daniel Hishaw, Dylan McDuffie, and Sevion Morrison. Not only that, but each of those four broke a big play, having a long run of at least 17 yards. When asked after the game, Bean said that the performance of his backs was his favorite part of the game.

“All four of our backs getting touchdowns, I think that’s pretty big for them,” Bean said. “That’s not something you see every game, four different running backs getting touchdowns. They ran the ball really well and that’s just a credit to the offensive line and how they played tonight.”

The leader of the pack was Neal, who gained 94 yards on 13 carries, including a 48-yard touchdown run on his first carry of the season. It was a play that Neal said they executed to perfection. McDuffie, a senior who previously played for Buffalo and Georgia Tech, also broke his first carry for the Jayhawks for a 17-yard touchdown.

“(McDuffie) was amped up all week and when he got his shot…obviously it was his first carry and he took it to the end zone,” Neal said. “So, I’m super proud of him and super proud of the entire running back room for what we’ve been able to do so far.”

There’s been no shortage of great backs in the Big 12 over the past few years. Kansas has had its share as well. But while many programs have one or two solid options in the backfield, the Jayhawks have the rare combination of talent and depth that goes four-deep. And for Neal, part of the success is the different skill sets each brings.

“Duff and Daniel are kind of battling off each other. They’re kind of like the more bruiser, power guys. But Daniel is a freak of nature, so is Duff, too,” Neal said. “Me and Sevion can offer more like the gadget-type guys. We obviously can run inside the tackles, too, but that’s kind of the mixup that you have with us as a running back room. It makes it really hard for people to cover.”

Last year, Kansas ran for 2,395 yards on the season – 184 yards per game – between the backs and talented quarterbacks, and could be even better this year. The Jayhawks rushed for more than 200 yards in six of 13 games and now got even deeper and potentially more talented, as long as they can all stay healthy. And for Miller who has watched them first hand for months, he’s seen it coming.

“I’ve seen each one of them get better the whole entire offseason, spring ball, and everything,” he said. “They definitely were locked in the whole time. They did what they were supposed to do tonight. They definitely showed out.”