Former Notre Dame commit continues to make the Fighting Irish fanbase ask what if following latest step in bizarre CFB journey
What if Dylan Edwards stuck with Notre Dame?
It has been a bizarre college football journey for Kansas State running back Dylan Edwards, who is officially entering the transfer portal.
Originally beginning his career at Colorado, the decision was made to preserve a year of eligibility, as he has only played in four games during the 2025 season so far. Edwards will now be searching for his third college team in four seasons.
Most Notre Dame fans probably remember Edwards vividly back in the 2023 recruiting class. After initially committing to Kansas State, the school where his father, Leon, played, Edwards flipped his commitment to the Irish before his senior season. It was viewed as a big deal at the time, and Edwards was widely considered to be the fastest player in the 2023 class.
During his four-year career with Derby (Kansas) High School, Edwards managed to rush for 6,426 yards and 95 touchdowns. The diminutive playmaker also hauled in an additional 40 receptions for 556 and seven scores, as well as four return touchdowns on special teams.
The Fighting Irish staff valued the 5-9, 175-pound athlete as a slot receiver and gadget player in their system. Notre Dame was excited about his natural ability as a playmaker and his 4.3 speed. In the modern world of the RPO and screen game usage, Edwards felt like an easy fit in that role.
Unfortunately for the staff, Edwards made the decision to decommit once again, which took many by surprise. He eventually landed with head coach Deion Sanders and Colorado. Edwards would play his freshman year with the Buffaloes, but opted to transfer to Kansas State. It felt like that would be the final stop in his college career, but here we are.
Despite having been committed to three different programs as a recruit and now searching for his third college-level program, the market is expected to be a good one for Edwards. You just can’t coach the speed and explosiveness that he brings to the table. In 28 games during his career, Edwards has managed to total 2,083 all-purpose yards and 15 touchdowns.
The Kansas native will have two years of eligibility remaining.
What if Edwards stuck with Notre Dame?
This is admittedly probably a moot point considering how frequently Edwards has gone from program to program. Still, there is an alternate reality where Edwards follows through with his commitment to Notre Dame. There is a good chance that his game-breaking speed would have won over the fan base very quickly.
Quickly imagine an offense that has the combination of Edwards, Jeremiyah Love, and Jadarian Price. That is a lot of speed for one offense. Considering all the different ways to utilize each is a tantalizing proposition for offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock.
If Edwards had signed with the Irish and stuck it out, you might not have had to dip into the portal for the likes of Will Pauling or Jayden Harrison the last two years. You would also have a dynamic punt returner to improve special teams. There is a lot you could have done with a player like Edwards, but unfortunately, we will never know what could have been.
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