Kansas has spent the last several seasons in pretty good shape at running back, and Dylan Edwards now gets the chance to extend that run.
Devin Neal was the centerpiece there for four years before heading to the New Orleans Saints, and last season Daniel Hishaw Jr. and Leshon Williams handled the job well enough for the Jayhawks. This year, though, the spotlight shifts to a new duo: K-State transfer Dylan Edwards and Syracuse transfer Yasin Willis.
Edwards is the more intriguing name in the group, and for good reason. He began at Colorado before spending two seasons at Kansas State, where his production flashed even when the role didn’t always match the talent.
As a freshman, he played in 12 games but was used sparingly, finishing with 76 carries for 321 yards. His first season in Manhattan brought a bigger workload behind DJ Giddons, now in the NFL, while Avery Johnson also soaked up plenty of carries at quarterback. Even with that competition, Edwards still managed 546 yards on only 74 rushing attempts.
He also proved he can do damage as a receiver. Over his first two seasons, Edwards caught 55 passes for 432 yards and six touchdowns, giving Kansas another layer to work with if it wants to get him involved in space.
Last season was supposed to be the breakout year, but an ankle injury early in the opener changed everything. He appeared in four games, though he was truly effective in just one of them, when he totaled 166 yards on 20 carries.
That’s the version Kansas is betting on now: the healthy, explosive Edwards who can turn a routine handoff into a chunk play. In the one game last year when he was fully healthy, he averaged 8.3 yards per rush.
As a sophomore, he was even more consistently dangerous, averaging 7.4 yards per carry. Those numbers jump off the page.
The question is whether he can hold up with a lead-back workload and still create those big runs when defenses are keying on him. Kansas will need the answer to be yes.
There are bigger pieces in play around him, too. The offensive line has to do its part against Big 12 defenses, and the passing game has to be functional enough to keep opponents honest.
If the line doesn’t open lanes, it won’t matter who is carrying the ball. And with no quarterback named yet, the Jayhawks still have to prove the passing attack can stretch defenses instead of letting them crowd the box.
Edwards has the talent to be a major weapon, but he can’t carry the offense alone. Kansas has to be solid everywhere else for his skill set to really pop.
Even if he shares touches with Willis, Edwards could still put together a massive season in 2026. Kansas also has several young backs on the roster, and a few of them will likely work their way into the rotation for a handful of carries. Still, Edwards should be the one getting the most chances, especially because he brings value as a receiver, too.
The upside is obvious. If everything clicks, Kansas may have found its next standout at running back.
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