kansas
After spending one season at Colorado and two at Kansas State, Dylan Edwards, a former Derby High School standout, is now in the midst of a productive redshirt junior year at Kansas. The 5-foot-9, 175-pound running back is coming off a standout performance in which he carried the ball 30 times for 156 yards in the Jayhawks' 25-24 home victory over Baylor on Saturday. For Edwards, this third stop has been the most fulfilling.
"I've had a long journey, but each one is different," Edwards said Wednesday on the weekly Hawk Talk radio show. "This hasn't been easy, of course, playing for three schools. You wouldn't think you're going to play for three schools. But I've done the most I have ever done in college here, and if someone asked me what college I went to, I'll say KU."
Edwards ranks seventh among Big 12 running backs who have played seven games, with 531 yards on 105 carries and four touchdowns. West Virginia's Cam Cook leads the conference with 923 yards on 186 carries and seven touchdowns in eight games. In the first quarter against Baylor, a 39-yard touchdown sprint by Edwards was negated by a holding penalty. While frustrating, Edwards remains focused on the simple joy of competing.
"Playing football is something I love to do, and as long as I keep playing it, I'm going to have fun doing it," he said on Hawk Talk.
TCU coach Sonny Dykes this week called Edwards one of the better running backs in the league. The Horned Frogs and Jayhawks, both 3-4 overall and 1-3 in the Big 12, will meet at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in Fort Worth on FS1.
Kansas coach Lance Leipold and offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki know Edwards must remain a central piece of the plan, especially with injuries in the running-back room that include Syracuse transfer Yasin Willis.
"He touched the ball a ton against Baylor and he was really productive," Kotelnicki said. "He had a pretty quiet 5.2 yards per carry. We had the big one called back because of a hold. I'm really pleased. Here's the guy who got the ball 30-some times, a career high for him. He comes in Sunday a little sore but bounced around. He was like, 'I'm ready to go.'"
Edwards confirmed the recovery: "Of course you are sore after the game, but after getting treatment I felt great and I'm ready to take on this week at TCU."
Leipold was equally complimentary. "It was Dylan's best day as a Jayhawk. I thought he ran hard — as hard as he's run since he's been here — with confidence and understanding there is some physicality and contact. I wasn't real happy with the holding that was called on the first one, the 39-yarder. That was such a good run. He showed his speed around the corner. Those are the type of plays we all anticipate. Dylan is having the opportunities, and I just hope it's a springboard for more of these type of games," Leipold stated.
Dykes also praised Kansas' overall offense. "They're going to show you a lot of different looks and try to confuse you a little bit, create really good matchups. They do a great job scheming the run game, and the quarterback can make plays. They're going to show you unbalanced looks and do a lot of different things to confuse you defensively," Dykes said. "They do some really creative things in the run game with the quarterback (Isaiah Marshall) and then he can run around and make plays. That's what he's done consistently — get out of the pocket. He does a nice job of getting the ball down the field to their receivers. Those guys do a great job on their scramble-drill opportunities," Dykes added.
TCU wide receiver Jordan Dwyer, a 6-foot senior transfer from Idaho, has three 100-yard receiving games this season — at North Carolina, against Baylor, and against Iowa State — and 12 for his career. Running back Jeremy Payne leads the Horned Frogs with 623 yards rushing. The TCU defense ranks first in the Big 12 in third-down defense (15th nationally), first-down defense (10th nationally), scoring defense (sixth nationally), and total defense (sixth nationally). Through seven games it has allowed 97 points, or 13.9 per game, fourth among Power Four teams.
TCU will also enter the game with a change on its offensive staff after Dykes fired longtime assistant A.J. Ricker, the offensive line coach who also worked at Kansas in 2018. "Look, you guys know I've been with coach Ricker for a long time," Dykes said. "He's been with me. He's been part of an offense that played in a national championship game, the 2023 loss to Georgia. It's won a lot of football games. He's done an outstanding job. Just a great person. Great family. Love him like a brother. Unfortunately, sometimes you've got to make a change, and I felt like it was the right thing to do."
Key Analysis
Edwards' journey through three college programs has finally found stability at Kansas, where he has emerged as a reliable offensive weapon. His recent 156-yard outburst against Baylor not only marked a career high in carries but also showcased his resilience and growth. With injuries thinning the running-back corps, Edwards' role becomes even more critical as the Jayhawks prepare for a challenging matchup against a stout TCU defense. The Horned Frogs' defensive rankings and Dykes' strategic adjustments, including the dismissal of Ricker, add intrigue to the upcoming game. Edwards' ability to maintain his production will be pivotal for Kansas' hopes of securing a conference win on the road.
Originally reported by kansas.