Working hard & having fun

It seems likely that KU juniors Dylan Edwards and Yasin Willis will handle a good chunk of the carries and be responsible for a heavy dose of the production from the KU running backs this fall. 

And while both of them still have college eligibility remaining past the upcoming season, the two quickly bonded over their plan to treat 2026 like their final go around. 

“This season is really grind mode,” Willis said back in the spring while looking toward his first season as a Jayhawk. “It’s like do or die, man. We always preach we gotta make it happen.”

The reason is simple. Both have goals of playing in the NFL after college. Willis, who transferred to KU after two seasons at Syracuse, said the two have even talked about wanting to enter the draft after this season. 

In hopes of being able to do that, they’ve treated every second they’ve been together so far like their last shot to prove themselves. And that has led to some serious competitiveness and improvement in each of them. 

“It’s exciting, man,” said Willis of being in lockstep with his new running mate. “It’s very exciting; especially when you’ve got another back that you’re very close with that’s got the same mindset. He’s got that chip on his shoulder like me. And I love the aggression that he plays with. That’s my guy.”

Asked Wednesday about the burden of feeling some urgency later in their careers and its role in his improvement with Willis, Edwards, who came to KU after two seasons at Kansas State and one before that at Colorado, pointed to one final piece of the puzzle that may be just as important as any of it. 

“I think if I have fun with it, I won’t think about it like that,” he said. “So, just go out there and have fun.” 

The work and their words demonstrate that these two are very good at that. 

Some of it is the fun of just being on the football field and playing the game they love. But they’ve had lighter moments, too, laughing with coaches and teammates during the grind of the offseason. 

Despite their different personalities — ”he’s got some energy,” Edwards said of Willis with a sly grin — the two have been able to lock in together on everything they want to do to improve as football players, running backs and leaders on this roster. 

Some days that’s extra work in the film room. Some days that’s extra effort during drills. And other days it’s picking each other up when things haven’t quite gone according to plan. 

“I feel like building a relationship outside of the field, in the meeting rooms, and understanding each other and how we think, it’s easier to go out there and be like, ‘Hey, you’ve got this on this play,’ or, ‘Line up here,’ or “You’ve gotta get out more,’” Edwards said. “It’s just a great room.” 

KU running backs coach Jonathan Wallace is a fan of the entire running back room, young and old, and he particularly likes the way Edwards and Willis have tried to lead it with their passion for becoming elite. 

“They get after each other,” Wallace said after Wednesday’s practice. “They challenge each other in their own way. And I think it’s a beautiful thing.” 

“I won’t say it’s yelling and screaming,” he added. “But when they can hold each other accountable to what the standard is and you see that happening naturally, it’s a lot of fun as a coach. And I appreciate that from them. They want success too. They want success for the team.”

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