Kansas State running back Joe Jackson steps up with Dylan Edwards on the sideline
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Klieman named Jackson starter after Edwards’ ankle injury; Jackson rushed 110 yards.
- Jackson delivered career-high production and 27 carries, proving backfield depth.
- Edwards’ availability remains uncertain; he could redshirt while recovering this season.
Kansas State football coach Chris Klieman had a special message for Joe Jackson before he took the field as the team’s starting running back last week.
“We challenged him,” Klieman said.
Without Dylan Edwards in the lineup because of an injury to his right ankle/foot, it was up to Jackson to deliver big numbers on the ground. That is something he didn’t do much of during the first five games of the season, when he only amassed 172 yards of total offense and scored two touchdowns.
But Klieman thought Jackson was capable of more. So he told him exactly that shortly after Edwards was ruled out of Saturday’s game against TCU.
“With Dylan down,” Klieman said, “it was like, ‘OK, you’re the one. Now, play like a one.’”
Jackson heard the message loud and clear. He responded with his best game in a K-State football uniform.
The sophomore rushed for a career-high 110 yards on 27 carries, proving that the Wildcats have multiple playmakers in their backfield. Jackson also recorded a strong game two weeks ago against Baylor, when he gained 61 yards on the ground and also caught five passes for 41 yards.
Perhaps best of all, Jackson has gained confidence along the way.
“It’s a good feeling,” Jackson said, “but there is still a lot more for me to do. I still feel like I left a lot out there. It feels good, though. I prepared myself for that.”
Jackson emerging as a dependable threat on the ground is good news for K-State.
There is no telling when, or if, Edwards will return to action this season. The Derby product has only been 100% healthy for one game, a 166-yard effort against UCF. He has missed three games entirely, and he left three others early with various injuries.
Because Edwards has only appeared in four games, he could choose to sit out the remainder of the season with a redshirt in order to preserve an extra year of college eligibility.
His agent told On3 last week that Edwards plans to keep playing after he gets healthy. But some will continue to question his status until he returns to the field. Edwards watched the TCU game on the sideline with a walking boot on his right foot.
Meanwhile, Klieman challenged Jackson to play like a starter. And he did exactly that.
Jackson is giving the Wildcats a capable alternative at running back.
“He is running the ball hard and making the first defender miss,” K-State quarterback Avery Johnson said. “Coach (Brian Anderson) talks about it a bunch. We have got to make guys miss. We can’t block them all. When the offensive line blocks everybody but one, that’s the running back’s guy. You saw it a lot with DJ (Giddens) last year. DJ made the first defender miss a lot. Joe did a really good job of that, and that’s why he had such a good game on the ground.”