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Kansas star tailback Devin Neal has informed the Jayhawks coaching staff that he’ll be returning for the 2024 season, sources told ESPN.

Neal earned second-team All-Big 12 honors this season after rushing for 1,209 yards and scoring 16 touchdowns. A true junior, Neal had contemplated going to the NFL.

Neal’s return for his senior season will give Kansas a distinct offensive identity heading into 2024, as the school also brings back star quarterback Jalon Daniels. The Jayhawks project to return eight of 11 starters on offense, including all three starting wide receivers, and will boast some of the most recognizable talent in the Big 12 for 2024.

Neal has registered back-to-back seasons of more than 1,000 yards, and his 6.6 yards per carry in 2023 led all Big 12 rushers with more than 100 carries. He also caught 24 balls for 214 yards, and he’ll enter 2024 as one of the most productive tailbacks in the sport.

Neal is a Lawrence native who has been a key cog in returning Kansas to the national conversation, as he’s been a linchpin in all three of coach Lance Leipold’s seasons.

“Him being the local guy, it’s a credit to his loyalty to the community,” said a Kansas source. “It was his mission when he signed to put Kansas football on the map, and this is another part of that.”

The Jayhawks (8-4) have been ranked as high as No. 19 in each of the past two seasons and reached back-to-back bowl games for the first time in over a decade.

A win over UNLV in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl on Tuesday night would give Kansas its most wins since 2007, when the Jayhawks went 12-1 and won the Orange Bowl.

During his three seasons in Lawrence, Neal has rushed for 3,006 yards and has 32 rushing touchdowns. He enters Tuesday’s bowl game ranked No. 5 on Kansas’ all-time rushing yards list and No. 3 in rushing touchdowns.

With another productive season, Neal projects to eclipse June Henley as the program’s most decorated tailback. Henley’s 3,841 yards and 41 touchdowns rank No. 1 in school history.

Neal eclipsed the 100-yard mark six times in 2023, including 154 yards against UCF and 138 yards and three touchdowns against Kansas State.

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Flames’ Zary gets 2 games for elbowing Pettersson

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Flames' Zary gets 2 games for elbowing Pettersson

NEW YORK — Calgary forward Connor Zary was suspended two games without pay Thursday for elbowing Vancouver defenseman Elias Pettersson during the Canucks’ 4-3 shootout victory over the Flames.

Zary, 23, was assessed a minor penalty for interference on the play at 11:19 of the first period Wednesday night. The suspension will cost him $8,993 in salary.

After Pettersson knocked Calgary center Nazem Kadri off his skates just as Kadri unloaded the puck and crossed the blue line, Zary retaliated with a blindside hit that led to the penalty.

Pettersson had the tying goal with 6:44 remaining in regulation and scored in the first round of the shootout. Conor Garland added the winner in the fourth round of the shootout.

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Devils’ Hamilton out for regular season, GM says

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Devils' Hamilton out for regular season, GM says

New Jersey Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton will miss the remainder of the regular season and “possibly” the playoffs due to a lower-body injury, general manager Tom Fitzgerald said.

When pressed if Hamilton could return if the Devils reach the second round of the postseason, Fitzgerald wasn’t too optimistic on Wednesday.

“We’re not planning on it, how’s that?” Fitzgerald said during an appearance on the “Krackin’ Canuckleheads” podcast.

Hamilton has been sidelined since he was tangled up with Stars forward Mason Marchment in the first period of a 4-3 loss to Dallas on March 4.

Hamilton, 31, has 40 points (nine goals, 31 assists) in 63 games this season. He is competing in the fourth campaign of his seven-year, $63 million contract.

Hamilton has totaled 501 points (151 goals, 350 assists) in 834 career games with the Boston Bruins, Calgary Flames, Carolina Hurricanes and Devils.

Hamilton was selected by the Bruins with the ninth overall pick of the 2011 NHL draft.

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Devers: Willing to do whatever Red Sox want

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Devers: Willing to do whatever Red Sox want

Rafael Devers told reporters Thursday that he’s “good to do whatever” the Boston Red Sox want him to do, an indication that he’s willing to move away from third base and serve as the team’s designated hitter this season.

A switch of roles didn’t seem likely last month, when Devers balked at the idea at moving to DH in the wake of Boston signing Alex Bregman.

“Third base is my position,” Devers said then.

But the three-time All-Star said Thursday that he spoke with manager Alex Cora and chief baseball officer Craig Breslow a few weeks ago and told them “I’m good to do whatever they want me to do.

“I’m here to help,” he said through his interpreter, according to The Athletic. “I’ve already spoken with them about that and they know where I stand, but I’m just ready to play.

“I’m not going to share what we talked about here just because it would make me come off … those are private conversations. So I told them everything of my point of view, how I see things, and they know that.”

Devers has yet to appear in an official spring training game for Boston. It was supposed to happen Tuesday but got pushed back to this weekend. He battled soreness in both of his shoulders last season and spent the first couple of weeks of spring training trying to strengthen them ahead of the regular season.

He did play in an intrasquad game Thursday in Fort Myers, Florida, before he spoke with the media, and had a home run off new Red Sox starter Walker Buehler.

Asked if he expects to be ready for Opening Day against the Rangers on March 27 in Texas, Devers said: “I expect to be there.”

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