In a surprising turn of events, Dylan Edwards, a prominent running back for the Kansas State Wildcats, has decided to leave the team. His departure doesn’t just affect his athletic career—it comes with some serious financial consequences too.
Kansas State University’s policy is clear: any student-athlete who voluntarily leaves forfeits their revenue-sharing contract. In this new era of college sports, players get more than just scholarships, so every roster change hits the wallet as well as the field.
The Wildcats put a big chunk of their revenue-sharing funds into football players. Now, with Edwards gone, they’ve got to figure out what to do with his salary slot.
The Financial Implications of Dylan Edwards’ Departure
When Edwards told the K-State coaches he was leaving, he wasn’t just giving up football—he was walking away from a lot of money. Gene Taylor, K-State’s athletic director, explained that the university voids the revenue-sharing contract for any student-athlete who leaves by choice.
This is just how things work now in college athletics, with players earning more than the old-school scholarship package.
K-State’s Revenue-Sharing Model
Starting this year, schools can share up to $20.5 million with student-athletes. Kansas State puts about $15 million—roughly 75%—of that into football.
No one’s saying exactly how much Edwards was set to make, but it was definitely six figures. Since he left in early November with three games left, he misses out on two months of pay.
Impact on Endorsement Deals
On top of that, Edwards loses his endorsement payments. Curry Sexton, who heads the Wildcat NIL collective, confirmed that NIL deals stop the moment a player leaves the team.
Edwards had several endorsements, including a car dealership and a local restaurant. Now he’s got to return the cars he got from those deals—kind of like turning in a company car when you quit a job.
The Athletic and Financial Future of Kansas State Football
With Edwards out, Kansas State has more revenue-sharing space to chase new running backs in the offseason. Head coach Chris Klieman isn’t sure how quickly they’ll be able to reallocate those funds.
For now, the focus is on the current roster, and any big financial changes will probably wait until after the semester wraps up.
Historical Context
This isn’t the first time Kansas State’s run into this. The men’s basketball team dealt with something similar last year when Achor Achor left midseason.
It just goes to show how much college sports are changing—money matters more than ever in every decision.
Looking Ahead
Why did Edwards leave? Maybe it was injuries, maybe it was drama—his junior year wasn’t easy. He’s got talent, no doubt, and his MVP performance at the Rate Bowl last season proved that.
The timing is odd, though. If he’d stuck with the Wildcats until January and then hit the transfer portal, he could’ve kept getting paid, even if he sat out the last few games with a redshirt. Makes you wonder what really pushed him to go now.
Conclusion
Dylan Edwards is leaving the Kansas State Wildcats. It’s a big deal, honestly, and it says a lot about how college athletics are changing.
The money side of his decision can’t be ignored. Athletic performance and financial incentives are tangled up more than ever in sports today.
Kansas State now has to figure out how to handle its revenue-sharing funds. What happens next for college athletics? Hard to say, but everyone’s watching.
For more details on this story, you can read the full article on The Wichita Eagle.
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