Kansas added a different kind of weapon to its offense this offseason, and running backs coach Jonathan Wallace thinks the comparison is obvious.
Dylan Edwards arrived in Lawrence through the transfer portal after leaving in-state rival K-State, giving Lance Leipold and the Jayhawks a player with a very different profile than the usual college back. He may not be as complete a tailback as Devin Neal, but Edwards brings the kind of small-frame burst, speed and elusiveness that can turn a routine snap into a problem for a defense.
Wallace drew the line straight to a former Jayhawk star in his press conference yesterday.
"I think you guys know the name Pooka Williams," Wallace joked in a press conference yesterday. "In terms of what he was able to do on the field, dynamic in terms of make-miss ability, return ability, catch ability, all those things. One thing I love about Dylan is the kid will do any and everything to make sure he gets it right."
That kind of comparison carries weight in Lawrence. Pooka Williams was one of the most electric runners in recent Big 12 history, even while starring on back-to-back 3-9 Kansas teams. As a true freshman in 2018, he rushed for 1,125 yards and seven touchdowns while averaging 7.0 yards per carry.
What made Williams so dangerous was the same trait Wallace sees in Edwards: the ability to shake defenders and slip into open space before anyone can get a clean shot. In those rough years for KU football, Williams was the one player who could still make fans sit up and watch because every touch felt like it could explode.
Edwards said in his own presser yesterday that he never watched Williams play in person, but he has studied his film many times. Matching Williams’ production will be a tall order, especially since Williams topped 1,000 rushing yards in consecutive seasons behind a mediocre offensive line. Still, Edwards has the tools to create the same kind of highlight plays and bring some of that old electricity back to Kansas football when the Jayhawks open the season next month against Long Island University.
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Bill Self Just Framed Kansas Letdown And What Comes Next
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Dylan Edwards Could Give Kansas An Offensive Weapon Defenses Hate
Dylan Edwards has been spending as much time sharpening his mind as his feet, and Kansas likes the payoff. Running backs coach Jonathan Wallace has been using a quiz app to help Edwards tighten up his grasp of the playbook, part of the broader push to turn him into a more complete piece of the offense. The early signs are encouraging, with Edwards showing noticeable growth as a route runner and pass catcher, traits that can make a back a much tougher matchup for defenses.
Jonathan Wallace has been talking up the ways Edwards can threaten opponents from several spots, whether he is lined up in the backfield or split out wide. That kind of flexibility matters in a Kansas offense that can lean into multi-back looks and force defenders to sort out assignments on the fly. If Edwards keeps developing in the passing game while maintaining the burst that already makes him dangerous, he could become exactly the kind of versatile weapon opponents hate seeing on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Defensive Ends Are Turning Heads As One Jayhawk Faces Pressure
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David Santiago said the ends are being asked to handle different roles, which has added to the challenge and the value of the competition there. Dineen, meanwhile, made clear that Leroy Harris III still has work to do if he wants to fully tap into his potential, pointing to technique as the key piece of the puzzle. With camp still moving forward, Harris remains one of the more intriguing names to watch as Kansas keeps sorting out who can make the biggest impact off the edge. [Read more 🡒]