Colorado had planned on Dylan Edwards playing a big role in the offense this season.
Edwards has other plans.
The dynamic sophomore running back will enter the transfer portal after just one season with the Buffaloes, adding to the long list of Buffs leaving this spring.
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Edwards was one of three Buffs to enter the portal Tuesday, along with fellow running back Sy’veon Wilkerson and walk-on Cameron Warchuck, who was the Buffs’ starting long snapper. This spring, 21 players from CU have hit the portal.
Throughout the spring, Edwards and coaches expressed excitement about his role this season. The speedy, 5-foot-9, 170-pound Edwards led the Buffs in rushing last season, although with just 321 yards, and had been playing quite a bit at receiver this spring to utilize his pass catching skills.
On Thursday, head coach Deion Sanders said, “Dylan is a tremendous asset. We’re going to try to get the ball to Dylan in all forms and facets. … (Offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur) is going to do a great job of getting him the ball where he needs to get the ball on the go.”
In addition to his 321 rushing yards last year, Edwards caught 36 passes for 299 yards and four touchdowns. He had a dazzling debut in last year’s season opener. At TCU, he racked up 159 yards in total offense and became the first player in CU history to score four touchdowns in a debut.
Edwards didn’t have the same impact the rest of the year, but the Buffs had often expressed a desire to get the former four-star recruit more involved this season.
Wilkerson had 190 yards and three touchdowns on 53 carries last season after transferring to CU from Jackson State. He also caught five passes for 50 yards.
A 5-9, 210-pound senior, Wilkerson rushed for 1,152 yards and nine touchdowns in 2022 playing for Sanders at Jackson State. In 2021, he rushed for 848 yards and eight touchdowns at Delaware State, earning first-team all-conference honors.
With Edwards and Wilkerson leaving, as well as Alton McCaskill IV entering the portal last week, the Buffs have just three running backs on the roster for Saturday’s spring game: true freshman Micah Welch and walk-ons Charlie Offerdahl and Christian Sarem.
On Monday, the Buffs got a verbal commitment from Ohio State transfer Dallan Hayden, who will join the running back room in the summer.
Warchuck spent three seasons with the Buffs and handled every snap on special teams – punts, field goals and extra points – last season.
Walk-ons Camden Dempsey and Gabe Landers remain on the roster as snappers.