The clicking of cleats upon tile floor in the Vanier Family Football Complex preceded the arrival of junior running back Dylan Edwards, who soon ambled across the carpeted team theater room virtually undetected — for a second, at least. Wearing a white t-shirt and a black Catapult vest, the 5-foot-9, 175-pound Edwards turned around and was met by a throng of reporters for the first time after 16 sessions of training camp. The smile – the thing that Kansas State coaches, teammates and fans notice first about the stud running back – had dissipated into a closed lips while dancing eyes were motionless.
This was Dylan Edwards. Year two. All business.
What’s changed since last year?
“Nothing’s changed,” he said. “I’m coming in here every day with the mindset to get better.”
How long does it feel like since the Rate Bowl?
“Long ago,” he said. “That’s completely behind me now. I’m just looking toward the future.”
What impressed you most about your performance last year?
“Nothing,” he said. “I feel like last year was… I failed last year with what I wanted to do as a player. As a team, we won a lot of games, but as a player, I feel like I failed myself. This year, I’m trying to get back to how happy I can be performing.”
Failed???
Here’s the thing about Dylan Edwards: He makes so many people happy. He assuredly did so in 2024 during his first season at K-State after transferring from Colorado. Truth is, he’s one of the best all-around backs in the FBS. Coaches and teammates call Edwards the most electric football player in the country. He is on the Maxwell Award watch list. He is on the Doak Walker Award watch list. He is on the Paul Hornung Award watch list. He is on the Jet Award watch list.
The last time we saw Edwards in the backfield, he capped his first season at K-State by rushing for a school bowl-record 196 yards — including a career-long rush of 65 yards — and two touchdowns, and he caught two passes for 27 yards and another score, earning Rate Bowl Offensive MVP honors. His 223 all-purpose yards ranked second in K-State bowl history.
Playing behind future NFL Draftee DJ Giddens last year, Edwards bided his time by playing on 232 offensive snaps and 74 special teams plays during the season. Playing in 12 games with six starts, he rushed for 546 yards and five touchdowns on 74 carries, and he caught 19 catches for 133 yards and two touchdowns. His 7.4-yard rushing average ranked first among Power 4 running backs (minimum 70 carries).
Oh, but there’s more in Edwards’ arsenal. As one of the team’s primary return specialists, he had 150 punt-returns and a touchdown on 10 attempts, and he had 298 kickoff return yards on 15 attempts to earn All-Big 12 Honorable Mention accolades from the league’s coaches.
Yes, Edwards did so much good during his first season at K-State.
And there’s more to come.
“Dylan is a star, and he’s a game breaker,” K-State head coach Chris Klieman says.
Ask K-State running backs coach Brian Anderson. A 30-year coaching veteran, Anderson has coached an All-Big 12 running back in each of his first six seasons in Manhattan, including two of the top four all-time leading rushers in school history in Deuce Vaughn and Giddens. Anderson has had a 1,000-yard rusher in four-straight seasons, the longest such streak at K-State since the days of Darren Sproles. So, Anderson sees potential. Yes sir, the potential is there for Edwards, the second-fastest player on the team, to do extraordinary things in the fall.
“He has a hunger to him, and he has a desire to be the best player in the country,” Anderson says. “That’s how he works. That’s how he’s wired.”
Spend a little time with Anderson and his adoration toward Edwards and his abilities quickly become apparent. Anderson has worked with mightily talented ground gainers in the past. What does Anderson notice about Edwards?
His confidence.
“His confidence is sky high,” Anderson says. “He’s always had confidence in his ability, but having the success he had in the bowl game and knowing that he can play at a high level consistently, and have fun with it, and continue to challenge himself to be the best player he can be, I mean, that’s what I see.
“The confidence level is at an all-time high right now.”
Edwards following training camp practice appeared to say in so many words that he looks to improve in various ways this fall.
“I feel like I could’ve been a better player and teammate last year,” he says. “This year, I’m just trying to push forward. That’s it.”
His eyes light up at mention of the K-State offensive playbook.
“I feel like I’m playing way faster, and I’m not looking at the call three and four times,” he says. “I’m sometimes looking at the script before we go out to practice, and I’ll know what’s next. So, I don’t look at the call sometimes. Just having that next-play mindset and knowing that if I’m ready before I go out there, I’ll play way better.”
Will Edwards continue to return kickoffs or punts?
“I’m planning to be an overall playmaker,” he says. “It doesn’t matter, as long as I’m helping this team out and trying to win games, that’s what I’m planning to do.”
Edwards feels faster than a year ago. Rightfully so. He clocked in at 23.20 miles-per-hour during March testing — the second fastest behind senior safety VJ Payne at 23.37. Speaking with reporters, it looked like he had to be pulled from the weight room this summer.
“I feel like I can be a game changer for this team this year,” he said.
Several times, Edwards refers to the playbook and “doing the little things” during the offseason to help him further his game on the field.
Anderson has been with him every step of the way.
“He’s more comfortable because of the offense,” Anderson says. “It takes time. The next step for anyone who comes in my room, they have to learn football and defenses. That helps their mental approach in a big way. Seeing pictures, that’s when the big plays happen. And then you can prove it and show him on film.
“I’ll say, ‘What did you see here?’ And he’ll say, ‘I saw the safety move down, the linebacker in the B gap and not in the A gap.’ He has done a really good job understanding that part of it is going to help his game get to the next level.”
Edwards contends that it seems like so long ago since this all began, since he starred at Derby High School, became a four-star prospect by the recruiting services and the third-best running back prospect in the Class of 2022 by Rivals, then spent his true freshman season at Colorado, before coming home and transferring to K-State.
“I feel like I’m coming home,” Edwards said the day after he signed his Financial Aid Agreement with K-State in April 2024. “I can’t wait to finally go out there and run onto the field and feel the energy and the love from the K-State fan base. I’m really excited.”
He paused.
“I hope you can hear it in my voice.”
His voice, bubbly for sure upon signing with K-State, admittedly appears somewhat different after the 16th session of training camp in his second season with the Wildcats. A year ago, everything was new. A year ago, everything was just getting started. A year ago, K-State fans fell in love with Edwards. And that love continues today.
As Edwards says, last year is a long way away.
Today, it’s Dylan Edwards. Year two. All business.
And at the end of each game, hopefully self-happiness.