In a move that’s sure to stir some emotions in the Sunflower State, running back Dylan Edwards is flipping sides in one of college football’s more underrated rivalries-leaving Kansas State to join the Kansas Jayhawks.
Edwards, a 5-foot-9, 170-pound junior out of Derby, Kansas, is no stranger to movement. He began his college career at Colorado before transferring to Kansas State, and now he’s headed east to Lawrence to suit up for Lance Leipold’s Jayhawks. That’s three programs in as many years, but this latest move might be the most intriguing yet.
Let’s rewind to 2025. Edwards came into the season with high expectations at K-State.
He was pegged to be the Wildcats’ lead back, a dynamic playmaker ready to take on a heavy load. But things didn’t go according to plan.
An early-season injury-suffered overseas in Ireland, no less-derailed his campaign before it ever really got going. The injury, reportedly the result of kicking a bench in frustration, left him sidelined and unable to find a rhythm.
He ended up appearing in just four games-against Iowa State, Arizona, UCF, and Baylor-carrying the ball 34 times for 205 yards and two touchdowns. That limited action allowed him to preserve a redshirt, keeping a year of eligibility intact. But it also meant the Wildcats never really got to see what a fully healthy Edwards could do as their feature back.
Now, Kansas is betting on that untapped potential.
The Jayhawks are in search of a spark in their backfield, and Edwards brings just that-if he can stay healthy. He’s always been known as a bit of a wildcard in the locker room, a big personality who can be both energizing and, at times, challenging.
But when he’s locked in, his talent is undeniable. His quickness, vision, and burst make him a threat every time he touches the ball.
Even after a quiet 2025, Edwards still carries weight in the transfer portal. He’s currently rated as a three-star transfer and ranks as the 173rd overall player and the 11th running back, according to 247Sports. That’s not just a flier-those are real credentials, and Kansas is clearly hoping to strike gold.
With Edwards now in the fold, the Jayhawks have officially added 30 transfer players as they look to reset and reload for the 2026 season. It’s a bold strategy, but one that speaks to Leipold’s urgency to elevate the program to the next level.
And if Edwards can stay on the field and recapture the form that made him such a highly regarded prospect out of high school? Kansas might just have landed a game-changer-one who knows the rivalry better than most.