Injuries and transfers faded. Edwards rediscovered his spark, thriving with freedom and familiar faces at Kansas, finally feeling like himself again.
Dylan Edwards Finding Joy, Confidence In Fresh Start With Kansas Football
For Dylan Edwards, the transfer portal reset wasn’t just about football. It was about feeling like himself again. After stops at Colorado and Kansas State, plus a 2025 season cut short by injury, Edwards entered the transfer portal looking for something simple: peace of mind. Now at Kansas, he says he’s found it.
“I’m having fun,” Edwards said Thursday. “That’s something I told my family — I don’t care about nothing else but having fun. I know I’ll do good if I have fun with it.”
That mindset has defined his early days in Lawrence. A former Derby standout and Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year, Edwards’ path back home wasn’t straightforward. Kansas recruited him out of high school and again in the portal before, but it wasn’t until this winter that things finally lined up.
After battling an ankle injury that lingered deep into last season, Edwards didn’t even have his boot removed until shortly after committing to KU. Now healthy, he’s starting to look like himself again.
“The first month, he was very limited,” head coach Lance Leipold said. “But once he’s been given the full go, it’s been exciting to watch him.”
That explosiveness has already shown up in spring practices, where Edwards has turned heads with his speed and versatility. And it’s not just what he’s doing, it’s how he’s being used in the offense.
Offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki has given Edwards freedom within the system, moving him around and avoiding putting him into a strict role.
“He told me if I came here, he was going to do everything in his power to make the offense fire,” Edwards said. “He mixes it up, gets everybody involved. That’s fire. I like that.”
The comfort level goes beyond the scheme. Edwards said long-standing relationships, especially with running backs coach Jonathan Wallace, helped make the transition seamless.
“I’ve been knowing Coach Wallace since my freshman year,” Edwards said. “They welcomed me with open arms.”
That’s extended to the locker room, too. Edwards said any concerns about fitting in disappeared once the team hit the field together. Now, the focus is simple: stay healthy and keep building confidence.
“I feel great,” Edwards said. “Every day I feel like I’m getting it back.”
If that continues, Kansas may be getting the version of Dylan Edwards that many people believe in.
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