The NFL season wrapped up, the Senior Bowl is over, and now top college prospects will gear up for the NFL combine. These former collegiate athletes will be working hard over the next couple of months to make their dreams come true with the potential to get drafted and make an NFL roster.

The Kansas Jayhawks have four of their former players who are projected to be drafted in the 2025 NFL draft. Let’s take a look at where they are projected to be selected.

Devin Neal, Running Back

Devin Neal is the greatest running back ever to wear the crimson and blue. He finished his career at Kansas as the all-time leader in rushing yards (4,343), rushing touchdowns (49), total touchdowns (52), and 100-yard rushing games (19) and is the first player in Kansas football history to have three consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons. Jayhawk fans will miss him, but could he end up close to home?

Based on research from several featured mock draft websites, Neal is projected to go anywhere from the end of the second round to the middle of the sixth round. Any team looking to add a trustworthy running back who can play all three downs would be happy to have him on their squad. Neal would likely enter the league as a backup or a guy who could compete for a starting spot. If he does end up in a backup role initially, he could be used on special teams as he has been a kickoff return specialist during part of his time at KU.

One team to keep an eye on that could use Neal’s services is Kansas City. The Chiefs have made three consecutive Super Bowl appearances and are set to bring back a ton of talent on both sides of the ball. However, the franchise needs to get younger at the running back position. Isaiah Pacheco is the only running back currently signed heading into the 2025 season, and the Chiefs will likely need to add a veteran and draft one to fit into the mix. Neal, who played his home games in 2024 at the home of the Chiefs inside GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, would fit right into Andy Reid’s offense. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind taking handoffs or catching passes from a future Hall of Fame quarterback, either.

Cobee Bryant, Cornerback

Cobee Bryant was the first player in Kansas football history to be named First Team All-Big 12 in three consecutive seasons. To say his career as a Jayhawk was fantastic would be an understatement. Now, Bryant is looking to make the jump to the next level. They don’t call him the “Hawk Mamba” for nothing. He has a nose for the ball and makes big plays at big moments. Bryant is a little light but could bulk up ahead of the combine. What he lacks in weight, he makes up for in toughness. He hits hard and plays through injuries. He is the type of player who would be great for any NFL team.

Like Neal, Bryant is being projected all over the map from the second to the sixth round. If he puts on some weight before the combine and can maintain his speed, he will likely rise up draft boards. If he still weighs in at around 170, he could slip a little bit. He could walk in and play outside corner for a team looking for a CB2, but he may initially start out as a special teams player and work his way into a starting role.

Mello Dotson, Cornerback

Dotson, like his fellow cornerback Bryant, was an outstanding player who helped turn this Jayhawk football program around under head coach Lance Leipold. He’s bigger than Bryant and is currently a consensus third-round pick. Dotson finished his career with 11 interceptions including a school record five that were returned for a touchdown. Dotson could make an immediate impact at the next level playing on the outside for a team looking for a second cornerback. He has a knack for making big plays and should be able to make a great career in the NFL with the talent he possesses.

Logan Brown, Offensive Lineman

Brown finished his career at Kansas after transferring from Wisconsin. He started at right tackle for the Jayhawks and helped the offense continue to improve as the season went along in 2024. Brown has the size (6’6” and 315 lbs) and athleticism to be a day-one starter in the NFL but is currently projected between a fifth and seventh-round selection. He will likely start as a right tackle but potentially has the skill to move to left tackle later in his career. Brown excels in run blocking, especially in a zone scheme, and has room to improve in his pass blocking, especially against elite edge rushers. His floor should be a reliable swing tackle but with the right fit and coaching he could be a year one contributor.

Kansas football has been more competitive since Lance Leipold took over the program and, in doing so, has created a space for players to have the opportunity to make it to the next level.

These four guys will hope to hear their names called during the NFL Draft and realize their dreams could soon become a reality in a few short months.