OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Gus Edwards is putting up rushing numbers like Ezekiel Elliott and Saquon Barkley with a no-frills, battering-ram style.

The Baltimore Ravens rookie running back takes every carry from Lamar Jackson and plows ahead, gashing defenses when there are holes and pushing back tacklers when there is little running room. Edwards has mastered the art of making one cut and charging forward, showing a decisiveness with every touch.

In five games as a starter, Edwards has produced three 100-yard games and 486 yards rushing, the fourth-most in the NFL over that span. He's also the only player with more than 100 carries this season who has yet to be stopped behind the line of scrimmage.

This no-nonsense way of running suits his personality. Edwards takes an extremely businesslike approach to being the Ravens' lead back.

But even as he is enjoying a breakout season, it's hard to tell how much Edwards is enjoying it. The Ravens (8-6) often find it difficult to get him to crack a smile.

"He’s a quiet guy everywhere," coach John Harbaugh said. "If you want to get him to smile, you better be on your joke game. You better bring a good one."

Edwards' determined attitude has helped him go from an undrafted rookie on the practice squad to the featured back on the most dominant rushing attack in the league.

Edwards has had to earn his way into this role after not getting much recognition at Rutgers and gaining 713 yards as a fifth-year senior. He's on pace to nearly match that total in less than half of an NFL season.

"I know what [football] could do for me," Edwards said. "It’s taken me this far; it’s my job. Pretty much, it does a lot for me. I take it seriously, and I want to be successful. I have goals for myself. I try to work hard towards those goals."

The Ravens' run game struggled for a large portion of the season with Alex Collins and Buck Allen. Then, when Joe Flacco injured his hip, Baltimore turned into a run-option team with Jackson.

With Jackson's speed to hit the edges, the Ravens needed a running back to attack the gut of the opposing defense. Edwards has become the perfect complement, a north-south runner who runs with ferocity.

He became the first Ravens running back to eclipse 100 yards in three games in a season since Justin Forsett in 2014.

"I don’t believe there are very many running backs that are really good that don’t run between the tackles well," Harbaugh said. "You have to have that ability, and that takes toughness and courage."

No one can question Edwards' toughness and courage after he was the closer in Sunday's 20-12 victory over the Buccaneers. In running out the final 7 minutes, 8 seconds of regulation, Edwards toted the ball eight times, including seven consecutive carries.

While Tampa Bay's defense tired, Edwards seemed to get stronger, breaking a 26-yard run on his final touch.

"Right now, we have a good thing going," Edwards said. "We’re trying to build on that each game, and keep it working. We feel like the fourth quarter belongs to us."

For Edwards, that's the best kind of punchline.