Before the world found out that Deion Sanders was leaving Jackson State to become the head football coach at Colorado, there were a few people who knew the news was coming.
Dylan Edwards was one of them.
“About a week before the announcement that he was coming to Colorado they called me and said, ‘We’re making a switch. We want you to come with us,’” Edwards said Wednesday after the Buffaloes’ sixth practice of spring football.
At the time, Edwards was a senior at Derby (Kan.) High School and verbally committed to Notre Dame. The four-star running back recruit agreed to visit CU, however.
“(Sanders) was like, ‘Well, you’re not just gonna come visit. We’re gonna get you to commit,’” Edwards said. “I was like, All right.’”
Sure enough, Edwards visited, committed and then later signed his national letter of intent with the Buffs. After playing for Sanders as a youth many years ago, Edwards is enjoying the start of his new journey.
“It’s been great,” the 5-foot-9, 165-pound speedster said. “The offense that (coordinator Sean) Lewis has had, it’s very hard and very complicated, but I’m getting adjusted every day. Every day I just try to come out there in practice and be the best me I can be.”
Rated as one of the top running backs in the 2023 class, Edwards had 36 scholarship offers, including 22 from Power 5 schools. He rushed for 6,426 yards and 95 touchdowns in his prep career, averaging 10.3 yards per carry and 178.5 yards per game. He topped 100 yards in 32 of his 36 career games.
Knowing the transition to Power 5 football wouldn’t be easy, Edwards elected to enroll early at CU.
“Put on some weight; that was one big thing,” he said of his decision. “Get to know my teammates (as well). This is a whole new team we’re about to start and I’d rather be in a system already knowing everything before the summer comes so I can already be down pat by fall camp.”
With Edwards’ speed, he also has the ability to play receiver, but that’s not the primary objective at this point.
“I gotta get down the running back plays before I can go to the receiver position right now,” he said. “So I’m just trying to get dialed in and locked in with the plays right now, so you guys can see me at another position as well.”
Like a lot of freshmen, Edwards’ head is spinning a bit as he learns the offense.
“Oh yeah, it’s definitely overwhelming sometimes but having coaches that have been in that position and want to see you succeed, they’ll help you out,” he said.
Edwards said there are little nuances to the position, such as chip blocking and reading gaps.
“I just try to perfect that every day in practice and try to get better,” he said.
For now, Edwards is the lone newcomer in the running back room. Senior Deion Smith, junior Jayle Stacks, sophomore Anthony Hankerson and freshman Victor Venn are all back, along with several walk-ons, including sophomore Charlie Offerdahl.
Kentucky transfer Kavosiey Smoke is slated to join the team in the summer, as well.
Edwards is enjoying the group, but is mainly concerned about improving his craft.
“We have fun, but when it’s time to work, we work and business is business,” he said. “So we just try to all compete against each other and come out with great plays.
“I was coming to a place where it was very fresh and new. New coaches, new everything. So, me coming here was just a fresh start for me to lock in, do what I need to do.”
