photo by: Mike Shaw/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence running back Tahj Edwards looks for space during a game at Shawnee Mission West on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, in Overland Park.

Tahj Edwards was excited when he met his new football coach, Jason Thoren, and heard how the new offense would focus heavily on the run game.

Edwards, a running back for Lawrence, is gearing up for a final season with the Lions and wants to show colleges what he is capable of. With football camps hosted by universities this summer followed by a senior season in which he’ll be the featured back in a run-heavy offense, Edwards is ready to make a name for himself.

“We have a whole new playbook, and it’s a really run-based playbook, in my opinion,” Edwards said. “That would affect my season extremely well, because I’ll be able to showcase my skills to coaches that weren’t able to see everything I could do last season or from my film.”

It’s been a busy offseason for Edwards. It started with weight lifting before a coach was hired. The uncertainty of who would be coaching and what the season might look like made it a challenge, but Edwards stayed focused. When Thoren was hired and Edwards got a sense for what the offense would look like, he only had excitement for his final season.

“We’ll be able to run it down team throats, like we’ve wanted to my whole high school (career),” Edwards said. “It would also show my line, what my line can do, and how my line is going to destroy the D-line.”

Edwards’ high hopes for his senior year follow a junior year that was difficult for the Lions. The team went 4-5 and had to make several late comebacks after falling behind early. Those moments helped Edwards understand the demeanor needed to win a game — no matter what the situation is.

“I was able to develop the most by facing adversity,” Edwards said. “And it helped me. I was able to keep my composure and not become stressed out.”

Ahead of his senior season, Edwards has been trying to get some name recognition. So far, he’s gone to college camps at Kansas, Kansas State and Tulsa. He’ll compete at Northwest Missouri State and Missouri Western later this month.

At those camps, Edwards gets to go against some of the best prospects at his position in the area. The competition drives him, especially when he has college coaches watching him.

“It’s a little nerve-wracking before you go out and actually perform,” Edwards said of the summer camps. “But I have fun competing against other people, and it pushes me to be better. I want to continue playing (football) at the highest level, and that really drives me.”

While the summer is about getting his name out there with college coaches, the football season is all about showing what he can do in real game scenarios. With a more run-heavy offense and a new philosophy, Edwards is excited for the season with Thoren and the Lions.

There will be a new quarterback in the backfield, with former backup junior Colton Curry stepping into the starting role. For any young quarterback, a good relationship with the running back is helpful, and in this case, Edwards has the opportunity to share all his knowledge on success with Curry.

But Edwards is not worried about Curry’s future. He has been impressed with Curry’s ability to pick up the offense while also trying to figure out what he doesn’t know.

“He understands a playbook, he knows what he’s doing… he knows his job,” Edwards said. And he has a willingness to learn. He’ll ask me questions like, Where am I blocking? What is our receiver doing? So I’m not worried at all.”

It’s a big season for Edwards — not just because of the change in play style or the increased exposure from having talked with more college coaches at recruiting camps. It’s the last time playing on the field he spent so much of his life working to get on, and he wants to leave a lasting impact.

“It feels like just yesterday that I was a freshman getting to meet coach (Clint) Bowen,” Edwards said. “This season is pretty big for me, and I’m going to miss the guys, the team when it’s done.”