Kansas linebacker Trey Lathan doesn’t need a scouting report to know what Dylan Edwards can do. He sees it every day in practice, and from his vantage point, the Jayhawks have one of the Big 12’s most dangerous playmakers in the backfield.
At Big 12 Football Media Days, Lathan described Edwards as the kind of player who can flip a game with one touch. The first thing that jumps out, he said, is the burst.
"He's electric," Lathan said. "Any time he gets the ball, he has the ability to take it the distance."
That speed is only part of the problem for a defense. Lathan said Edwards has grown into more than just a straight-line threat, developing into a more complete running back heading into the 2026 season. That versatility makes him harder to pin down and even harder to stop once he gets space.
Facing him every day has also sharpened Kansas’ defense. Lathan said Edwards forces defenders to stay locked in because he can hurt them in multiple ways, whether it’s on the ground or in the passing game.
"You've got to know where he is," Lathan said. "He can make people miss, and if you don't get him down the first time, it can be a big play."
That kind of explosiveness can change the feel of a game quickly, especially when field position and momentum are in play. Lathan sees Edwards as a major piece of what Kansas can do offensively, particularly with several returning playmakers around him.
He also pointed to the work Edwards puts in behind the scenes. From Lathan’s perspective, that daily effort shows up in the confidence Edwards brings to the field.
"He works hard every day," Lathan said. "You can see the confidence he plays with."
For Kansas, the setup works both ways: the defense gets a daily test against one of the conference’s fastest athletes, and Edwards keeps refining the traits that make him such a threat for the Jayhawks in 2026.
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