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Can Yasin Willis Unseat Dylan Edwards As Kansas' Starting Running Back This Season?
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- Can Yasin Willis Unseat Dylan Edwards As Kansas' Starting Running Back This Season?
(USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)
Kansas football will enter the 2026 season with two running backs expected to play major roles in the Jayhawks' offense.
Dylan Edwards and Yasin Willis have emerged as co-starters in Kansas' backfield, giving head coach Lance Leipold two different weapons to work with as the Jayhawks prepare for the season. The first official depth chart lists Edwards and Willis together at running back, with Jalen Dupree behind them.
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Rather than choosing one player to carry the majority of the workload, Kansas appears prepared to rely on both backs. Offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki has praised having Edwards and Willis available, describing the pair as players who can both handle significant playing time.
The two backs bring different styles to the offense.
Edwards, a 5-foot-9, 175-pound redshirt junior, provides Kansas with speed and versatility. The Derby, Kansas, native began his college career at Colorado before transferring to Kansas State. He later transferred to Kansas, where he is expected to be used both as a runner and a receiver.
Willis gives the Jayhawks a different presence. At 6-foot-1 and 230 pounds, the junior running back brings more size and physicality to the position. Willis transferred to Kansas from Syracuse after rushing for more than 500 yards during the 2025 season.
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The combination could make the Jayhawks' running game difficult for defenses to prepare for. Edwards can provide an explosive element in space, while Willis can be used to attack defenses between the tackles.
The two players have also developed a relationship since arriving together in Lawrence. Both have talked about their desire to make the most of the 2026 season and eventually reach the NFL. Willis described the season as "grind mode" during the spring, emphasizing the urgency surrounding the opportunity ahead.
Their partnership could become one of the defining storylines of Kansas' offense.
With Isaiah Marshall taking over as the Jayhawks' starting quarterback, Kansas will likely need a dependable rushing attack to help take pressure off the new starter. Edwards and Willis provide Kansas with two experienced options capable of doing that.
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As Kansas opens the season against Long Island, the Jayhawks will have two running backs sharing the spotlight. For Edwards and Willis, however, the goal is the same: produce, push each other and help Kansas get back to winning football.
Which Runningback will be most effective this season?
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Jimmy Adeniran is a contributor to JayhawksRoundtable. He can be reached at Mayor@iw2j.com
