Dylan Edwards played for K-State. Now he’s KU’s running back: ‘Why not?’
Dylan Edwards found himself surrounded by an entourage of media Saturday morning.
Despite the many microphones, cameras and phones recording him — and a huddle of people encroaching on his personal space — Edwards could not stop smiling.
In fact, the K-State transfer’s smile never disappeared despite a barrage of questions that lasted for about six minutes. It was his first official news conference as a member of the Kansas football team.
“I knew it was going to be different,” Edwards said about joining KU. “I like to be different, so why not? That’s why I’m here.”
The former Kansas State running back — and, at times, return man — had a tumultuous last season in Manhattan.
He played in just four games, with the highlight being a 166-yard rushing performance in a win over UCF. He played the following week against Baylor before deciding to leave the team early. He entered the transfer portal in November, but it would take some time before he became a Jayhawk.
Kansas coach Lance Leipold admitted that he monitored the situation from afar after that.
Edwards is no stranger to Leipold and his staff. The Jayhawks have recruited Edwards at three different points in his career. The first time was back in high school. Edwards is a Derby native and former Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year.
Edwards originally committed to K-State as a four-star recruit, then flipped to Notre Dame before finally ending up at Colorado.
When he left the Buffs after one season, the Jayhawks tried again, but he ended up at Kansas State. KU still had star running back Devin Neal, who is now in the NFL, so the fit wasn’t exactly there.
So ... when Edwards left the team last season and entered the portal, it was no wonder the Jayhawks were interested again. Edwards said that KU recruited him “real, real hard.”
That familiarity helped bring him to Lawrence.
“I’ve been knowing them for a long time, and that relationship just carried on when I got in the portal again,” Edwards said. “Those guys are the same guys as they were when I was a freshman.”
Edwards’ first attempt at a junior year ended when he suffered an ankle injury and was in a walking boot until the end of January. He started rehab shortly after and progressed from there. He’ll be a redshirt junior at KU with two years to play.
“The first month or so here, he was very limited yet from the injury and everything there,” Leipold said, “but once he’s been given the full go, it’s been exciting to watch him, and I think our fans are going to enjoy watching him play.”
Although the journey to Lawrence hasn’t been smooth, Edwards has had impressive numbers overall. He has 1,072 career rushing yards and eight touchdowns. He’s also tallied 449 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns.
For now, Edwards is enjoying his fresh start.
“It feels great,” he said. “The guys took me in with open arms, and that’s something big the coaches were worried about when I got in. Just to see how the team was around me. I got in here and everybody was real, real nice, and they’re just ready to work with me. I’m ready to work with them.”
Edwards joins a new-look KU backfield that includes Syracuse transfer Yasin Willis, Colorado State transfer Jalen Dupree and freshman Kory Amachree.
Edwards said the room gets along well and is learning from one another.
As for his role next season? Edwards will likely split carries with Willis, but his role could extend beyond that.
“Coach K (Andy Kotelnicki) hasn’t put me in a box as far as: ‘You have to do this only,’” Edwards said. “It hasn’t been like that. And so he told me to come here, be myself and play fast, and that’s pretty much all they’ve been telling me to do. They haven’t put me in a box, not one time.”
