BOULDER — Dylan Edwards runs like a Google map on your phone set to “avoid tolls.” You’ll get there eventually, but not without some fancy bobbing, clever weaving and maybe a few back roads you never knew existed.
Isaiah Augustave and Micah Welch, by contrast, prefer the direct approach. A to B. Whatever it costs.
“He’s a little different,” CU defensive quality control analyst Vincent Dancy said of Edwards, the former Buff who brings No. 18 Kansas State, his new program, in for a massive, prime-time Big 12 showdown Saturday night at Folsom Field. “But I think they use him similar to how we used him last year.”
Ah, yes. Last year. Did you know Augustave has more rushing yards over two Big 12 games (80) than Edwards produced over his last five tilts combined (71) vs. the Pac-12 in 2023?
Or that Welch has three times as many conference rushing touchdowns (three) this season, over just two league games, as Edwards put up (one) over all of last fall’s conference slate?
When the lightning-quick Edwards, the offensive jewel in Deion Sanders’ 2023 recruiting class and son of a Coach Prime family friend, hit the transfer portal in April, Buffs faithful were shocked.
Six months later, you know what might be more shocking?
How much CU hasn’t really missed him.
Now that’s not a knock on the 5-foot-9 Edwards, a four-star scatback who’s got NFL quicks and changes direction like an F-16.
His CU debut at TCU was one for the ages. Despite hitting a rookie wall, he became the first true freshman in Buffs history to pile up at least 250 rush yards and 250 receiving yards in the same campaign. Edwards has been holy-heck-on-wheels for the Wildcats, too, with touchdowns already via the ground, via the air and via punt returns, while averaging nine all-purpose yards every time he touches the ball.
“This is probably one he wants a lot,” K-State quarterback Avery Johnson told reporters Monday, “because whenever you play against an old school, you definitely want to have your best game and be able to contribute to the win.”
Look, if Edwards sticks around, there’s no way he doesn’t make the ’24 Buffs (4-1, 2-0 Big 12) better. But here’s the thing: The combo of Augustave and Welch makes CU … different. In a good way.
In baseball terms, Edwards is a home run hitter who can score from anywhere on the field. But when he struck out, or the blocks in front of him didn’t come through, CU’s offense found itself staring at some pretty unsightly second-down-and-forevers.
Welch and Augustave are doubles hitters. Chain-movers. Grinders. Pounders.
Sanders has a plethora of options at tailback, but his best three are all physical runners — Welch checks in at 205 pounds; Augustave is 210; Dallan Hayden is 205 — who usually wind up giving as good as they get.
The Buffs still have take-it-to-the-house talent up and down the roster. Quarterback Shedeur Sanders and Travis “Heisman” Hunter have long since proven they can win games all by themselves.
But you know what set up some of those Shedeur haymakers through the air against Baylor and at UCF? A steady jab-jab-jab of Augustave and Welch, methodically softening up the defense. Making those already wary and worn-out linebackers and safeties lean forward. Just a little.
It doesn’t hurt to have big backs alongside No. 2 when it comes to pass protection, either. Not that Edwards didn’t appear willing, — but 5-9, 167 pounds is still 5-9, 167 pounds.
The Buffs have rushed for almost as many yards over their last three games (328, good for 109.3 per tilt), all victories, as they did over their final six games of 2023 (355, 59.2 per tilt), all losses.
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A completely overhauled offensive line jelling in record time had a lot to do with that. But having a bunch of North-South jackhammers in the backfield sure helps. Especially when compared to some of Edwards’ more creative East-West excursions with the rock last fall.
“They want to get him to the perimeter, of course, so he can outrun you with his speed,” Dancy said. “They want to put him in the slot. They want to put him on (slower defenders), get him a mismatch on the linebackers to win on the wheel route. So you’ve just got to know where he’s at all the time.
“And this week, we’ve been doing a great job of game-planning against him. Everybody knows what he can do (from) last year. So, yeah, he’s a guy that we have to make sure we understand where he’s at and where he’s located on the field.”
If CU can figure that one out, the Buffs might find themselves suddenly riding the express lane for a College Football Playoff berth. With no traffic in sight.
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