Husky Recruiters Offer Speedy Kansas Runner

Kalen DeBoer's University of Washington recruiters have shown an interest in the Derby.

Kansas, not Kentucky.

Coming down this backstretch is running back Dylan Edwards, who fits the Huskies' stated need for speed, and on Monday he received a UW scholarship offer, giving him 17 in all.

The 5-foot-9, 165-pound Edwards hails from Derby, Kansas, which is southeast of Wichita, and, only a junior, he's the Gatorade Player of the Year for his state.

Oh yes, he's run a 4.34-second 40-yard dash, which gets him across the Kansas plains in a hurry.

✞
Blessed To Receive An Offer From The University Of Washington🐺 #Pac12 @KalenDeBoer @CoachLeeMarks pic.twitter.com/UxisrMVdsT
— 𝒟𝓎𝓁𝒶𝓃 𝐸𝒹𝓌𝒶𝓇𝒹𝓈 (@dylan_edwards02) January 24, 2022

For his 11-1 Panthers, who lost in the Kansas 6A state championship game after winning the previous three, Edwards rushed 209 times for 2,603 yards — averaging 221 per game and 12.5 per carry — and 38 touchdowns. He added four other scores on a reception, kickoff return and two punt returns.

As a sophomore, Edwards piled up 1,833 yards rushing and 25 touchdowns for a Derby state championship team.

Missing It.💪🏽 pic.twitter.com/1PB3cqMhDG
— 𝒟𝓎𝓁𝒶𝓃 𝐸𝒹𝓌𝒶𝓇𝒹𝓈 (@dylan_edwards02) January 15, 2022

Besides the UW, his other football suitors include Kansas, Kansas State, Arizona, Nebraska, Iowa State, Indiana, Michigan State, Minnesota, Wisconsin and West Virginia.

"It’s been crazy," Edwards said in a Derby school-district story. "I hop on phone calls every day with college coaches. I’m nervous at the same time because I don’t know where I’ll end up at the end of the day. Right now, it’s about building relationships.”

Dylan Edwards (@dylan_edwards02) is the 2021 Gatorade Player of the Year for Kansas. He had over 2,600 yards and 38 TDs on the ground for @DerbyPanther. He knows it takes a team, especially a dominant line. We talked all about that today. @jonas_vickers @alexkey_02 @dconn5795 pic.twitter.com/6TM9L0f6GE
— Sully Engels (@sullyengels) December 10, 2021

He's the son of former Kansas State running back Leon Edwards, a 5-foot-6 speedster who was an All-State selection like his offspring, only for Wichita's Southeast High, and he averaged 235 yards per game and was named to the Wichita Eagle’s 100 greatest Wichita athletes in 2000.

“I had the same burst of speed, but he has me times 10 in the things he’s blessed with — he has a sixth gear," Leon Edwards said. "I was in fourth gear. He can maintain that speed through the whole 100 yards."

Dylan Edwards with the 69-yard TD. Derby 55, Lawrence 21. :14 3Q pic.twitter.com/ru4IkwiBor
— Joanna Chadwick (@joannachadwick) November 20, 2021

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