How Chris Klieman handled Dylan Edwards' unique recruitment journey

LAS VEGAS (KSNT) - Dylan Edwards will suit up for Kansas State, although later than originally planned.

Edwards had a unique journey to Manhattan. He first committed to K-State out of high school before flipping his commitment to Notre Dame but ultimately ending up with Colorado for his freshman campaign. There were seemingly no hard feelings on K-State's end, despite the de-commitment. Chris Klieman and Avery Johnson both reached out to the Derby, Kansas native almost immediately when he entered the transfer portal.

"As soon as he hit the portal," K-State sophomore quarterback Avery Johnson said regarding how quickly he reached out to the fellow Kansan. "Facetimed him... Coach Klieman OK'd it to me. Facetimed him, got him on a visit.... and then Coach Klieman said handle it and the rest was history."

Running back wasn't necessarily a position of need for K-State with DJ Giddens returning. He went over 1,500 total yards and scored 13 touchdowns in 2023. Yet, Klieman called in a hurry.

"When he got in the portal, I was the first [coach] to call him," Klieman said. "It wasn't an assistant. It was me. I called him and we picked up right where we'd left off a year or so ago from that relationship.... We did a really good job with him and showed him that this is home. This is family."

Klieman says the way his program handled the change of plans from Edwards out of high school may have helped them in his recruitment as a transfer.

"We had a phenomenal relationship when I was recruiting him [out of high school]. I was very, very actively involved in recruiting him," Klieman said. "When he chose to go to another school he called me, we had a conversation, and I wished him the best. Because I'm a dad and a husband too and I want what is best for kids. But I also knew that if it didn't work out, he would consider it by how our relationship had gone and how I treated him when he did choose [to de-commit."

Klieman said he's excited to see Edwards play for K-State and Johnson was a big part of the recruitment when the Derby High School graduate opted to leave Colorado. Click here to read about K-State's plan to get both Edwards and Giddens involved in the offense.