Former Colorado star delivers belated Christmas coal to Deion Sanders with record-setting bowl performance
One of the more shocking transfer portal developments from the 2023-24 offseason was seeing Dylan Edwards leave Colorado. Edwards was one of only a few high school recruits to join Deion Sanders in Boulder during his first offseason there, and the high 4-star was the Buffaloes' starting back. Despite this, Edwards transferred away from Deion […]
One of the more shocking transfer portal developments from the 2023-24 offseason was seeing Dylan Edwards leave Colorado. Edwards was one of only a few high school recruits to join Deion Sanders in Boulder during his first offseason there, and the high 4-star was the Buffaloes' starting back. Despite this, Edwards transferred away from Deion and Colorado to Kansas State.
Edwards spent much of the season as the backup behind D.J. Giddens, totaling 546 yards and five touchdowns on 74 carries. His production was more efficient, but he had less playing time at Kansas State. His transfer seemed like a mistake.
However, Edwards delivered a Rate Bowl gem against Rutgers on Thursday, setting records with his 196 rushing yards on 18 carries. The speedster raced to a 65-yard touchdown and scored another carry.
He was integral in Kansas State's second-half comeback against Rutgers, where they erased a three-score lead and won by a field goal.
Colorado's leading running back in 2024 was just as productive as Edwards as a rusher but failed to meet his numbers as a receiver. Surprisingly, Isaiah Augustave won the role over Dallan Hayden and Micah Welch. He enters his bowl game against BYU with only 82 carries for 373 yards and four scores.
Edwards was a 4-star recruit, finishing as a top-225 prospect overall. He was ranked as the eighth-best back in the 2023 portal.
Sanders previously responded to Edwards' statement that he was "excited" to face Colorado in the regular season, saying this:
“I know he’s excited about the opportunity…I know he was excited about his time there. He has a ton of friends there. A lot of those teammates were his brothers, and that’s what college football is right now. Coaches do that as well as players, and so it’s always probably a little bit more special when you have a relationship with a previous school, whether you’re a player or a coach.
But the same thing: once that game starts, it’s in between the white lines, and you’ve got to beat your opponent, just like you do in practice. And so I’m excited for him. He’s playing really well, and he’s healthy, he’s fresh, and we’ve got to find ways to utilize him.”
“I’m always happy if you’re happy,” Sanders said. “I don’t want you to ever be in a situation where you’re unhappy, you don’t have peace. So I’m happy if he’s happy. I know he was unhappy for a minute here because he wanted some things that — it just wasn’t gonna happen.
Kansas State ended up beating Colorado that night, 31-28. While Edwards carried the ball only seven times for 21 yards and one touchdown, it was enough for him to score the revenge win.
In the meantime, Colorado still lacks an impact rusher. Seeing Edwards fulfill his potential in a bowl game before he takes over the RB1 role next year has to sting for Sanders.
