Armanti Edwards
Armanti Fredrico Edwards Sr. is an American gridiron football wide receiver for the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. He was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He was the starting quarterback for the Appalachian State Mountaineers football team from 2006–09. As quarterback in 2007, Edwards led Appalachian State to one of the biggest upsets in college football history, a 34–32 victory over then fifth-ranked Michigan.
In addition to leading the Mountaineers to consecutive NCAA Division I Football Championships in 2006 and 2007, Edwards became the first quarterback in Southern Conference history to lead his team to four straight conference championships. He became the first quarterback in NCAA Division I history to throw for 9,000 and rush for 4,000 yards in a career, accomplishing the feat against Furman on October 31, 2009. Later in the season, he would become the first quarterback to pass for over 10,000 yards and rush for an additional 4,000 yards in a career. He is also the first back-to-back and two-time Walter Payton Award winner, given to the Football Championship Subdivision's most outstanding offensive player, receiving the award in 2008 and 2009.
Early life
Armanti is the son of Deborah Anderson and Freddie Edwards. At birth, Edwards weighed 4 pounds 11 ounces and was delivered 10 days late. In September 2006, his father, Freddie, was convicted of a 2005 murder and sentenced to 30 years in prison. The conviction however was overturned because jurors were not given the option of finding Edwards guilty of involuntary manslaughter. During a retrial that concluded in June 2011 he was again convicted of murder and again sentenced to 30 years.High school career
At Greenwood High, under coach Shell Dula, he was named to the Greenwood Touchdown Club/Index-Journal All-Lakelands Team. Edwards originally played wide receiver, but in his senior year, he moved under center. The transition occurred late in the recruiting process, and he drew some interest from New Mexico State, Memphis, South Carolina, and Vanderbilt. After only receiving an offer from New Mexico State, he decided to honor his commitment to Appalachian State, in part because they would let him stay a quarterback. Armanti Edwards graduated with a 3.3 GPA.College career
2006 season
Armanti Edwards led the Mountaineers to the FCS National Championship in 2006 as a true freshman, beating the Minutemen of UMass 28–17. He finished the 2006 season with 2,251 yards and 15 touchdowns passing, and 1,153 yards and 15 touchdowns rushing. Edwards joined a select list as the fifth Division I player, and second freshman, to accomplish the feat of 2000 passing yards and 1000 rushing yards in one season. Edwards was named the Southern Conference Freshman of the Year at the end of the season.2007 season
Edwards started the 2007 season by guiding Appalachian State to a 34–32 upset victory over fifth-ranked Michigan of the Football Bowl Subdivision on September 1, in a game that was named the "Biggest Upset of 2007" by Sports Illustrated. In the game, Edwards threw for 227 yards and three touchdowns while also totaling 62 yards and a touchdown on the ground. On December 7, in a semifinal playoff game against Richmond, Edwards set the single game FCS rushing record for a quarterback, rushing for 313 yards and 4 touchdowns on 31 carries. He also completed 14-of-16 passes for 192 yards and 3 touchdowns. Edwards had been mentioned as a possible candidate for the Heisman Trophy in the 2008 season. Edwards established himself as a threat through the air and along the ground, and garnered elite status within the division. He and the Mountaineers won a third consecutive national championship, beating the Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens, 49–21, in the championship game on December 14. He outplayed future Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco in that game.in 2008.
2008 season
The Mountaineers began the 2008 campaign against the LSU Tigers, the first time defending FBS and FCS champions have met to open the season. However, LSU prevailed 41-13, with Edwards accounting for 216 of Appalachian State's 472 total yards. Edwards accounted for 440 yards of total offense, becoming the Southern Conference's all-time leader in yards with a 70–24 victory over the Wofford Terriers on October 31. On November 15, the Mountaineers clinched the Southern Conference championship, joining West Virginia, Furman and Georgia Southern as the only programs to win four straight titles, with a 24–16 victory over the Elon Phoenix. In his 36th career start, he became the 26th FCS player in history to surpass 10,000 yards of career total offense in Appalachian's win over South Carolina State in the First Round of the 2008 playoffs. He was named the 2008 Southern Conference Offensive Player of the Year, and was the winner of the 2008 Walter Payton Award, given to the top FCS offensive player. Edwards threw a career-worst 5 interceptions in a quarterfinal loss to eventual tournament winner, Richmond, denying Appalachian State their 4th consecutive FCS championship.2009 season
Before the start of the season, Edwards was involved in a lawn mowing accident, resulting in a trip to the hospital where he was treated and released. The injury sidelined him for the season opener against the East Carolina Pirates, a game which the Mountaineers would lose 29–24. With a 27–10 victory over Elon on November 14, Edwards became the only quarterback in conference history to win four consecutive championships. Edwards's college football career ended on December 12 in a playoff semi-final game against the Montana Grizzlies. The 24–17 loss was the highest rated FCS postseason game ever broadcast according to Nielsen and the NCAA. The following day, Edwards graduated after just three and a half years with a degree in graphic arts. On December 17, in a landslide victory, Edwards received the Walter Payton Award making him the first ever two-time recipient of the award.Statistics
Highlights and awards
Championships
- NCAA Division I Football Championship – 2006, 2007
- Southern Conference Championship – 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
Awards
- Walter Payton Award – 2008, 2009
- Southern Conference Bob Waters Male Athlete of the Year – 2010
- Southern Conference Roy M. "Legs" Hawley Offensive Player of the Year – 2008*, 2009*
- Southern Conference Offensive Player of the Year – 2008, 2009
- Southern Conference Freshman of the Year – 2006
- All-Southern Conference Football Team:
- * 1st Team — 2006, 2008, 2009
- * 1st Team – 2006, 2008, 2009
- * 2nd Team – 2007
- 5x Southern Conference Offensive Player of the Month – 11/2006, 11/2007, 10/2008, 11/2008, 10/2009
- 8x Southern Conference Offensive Player of the Week
- 5x Southern Conference Freshman of the Week
Records
Single game
- ASU and Southern – Rushing: 313 vs. Richmond, 2007
- ASU – Rushing Yards Per Attempts: 10.1 vs. Richmond, 2007
- ASU, Southern, and NCAA – Rushing Yards by a Quarterback: 313 vs. Richmond, 2007
- ASU – Passing Yards: 433 vs. South Carolina State, 2008
- ASU – Completion Percentage :.895 vs. Wofford, 2008
- ASU – Touchdown Passes: 5 vs. Wofford, 2008
- ASU – Touchdowns Responsible For: 7 vs. Richmond, 2007
Single season
- ASU – Rushing Yards by a Quarterback: 1,588, 2007
- ASU – Rushing Yards by a Freshman: 1,153, 2006
- ASU – Rushing Yards by a Sophomore: 1,588, 2007
- ASU – Passing Yards: 3,291, 2009
- ASU - Pass Attempts: 378, 2009
- ASU – Pass Completions: 257, 2009
- ASU – Completion Percentage :.680, 2009
- ASU – Passing Efficiency: 170.2, 2008
- ASU – Touchdown Passes: 30, 2008
- ASU – 200-Yard Passing Games: 10, 2009
- ASU – Consecutive 200-Yard Passing Games: 5, 2009
- ASU – Passing Yards by a Freshman: 2,251, 2006
- ASU – Passing Yards by a Sophomore: 1,948, 2007
- ASU – Passing Yards by a Senior: 3,291, 2009
- ASU and Southern – Total Offense: 3,970, 2009
- ASU and Southern – Touchdowns Responsible For: 41, 2008
- ASU and Southern – 250-Yard Total Offense Games: 10, 2008
- ASU – Consecutive 250-Yard Total Offense Games: 5
- ASU and Southern – 300-Yard Total Offense Games: 8, 2009
- ASU – 400-Yard Total Offense Games: 4, 2009
- ASU – Wins By a Starting Quarterback: 13, 2006
Postseason
- ASU – Single-Game Rushing Yards: 313 vs. Richmond, 2007
- ASU – Single-Game Rushing Touchdowns: 4 vs. Richmond, 2007
- ASU – Single-Game Pass Attempts: 54 vs. Montana, 2009
- ASU – Career Pass Attempts: 342
- ASU – Single-Game Completions: 29 vs. South Carolina State, 2008
- ASU – Career Completions: 216
- ASU – Single-Game Passing Yards: 433 vs. South Carolina State, 2008
- ASU – Career Passing Yards: 2,885
- ASU – Single-Game Touchdown Passes: 4 vs. South Carolina State, 2008
- ASU – Career Touchdown Passes: 19
- ASU – Single-Game Total Offense Attempts: 69 vs. Montana, 2009
- ASU – Career Total Offense Attempts: 564
- ASU – Single-Game Total Offense Yards: 495 vs. Richmond, 2007
- ASU – Career Total Offense Yards: 4,186
- ASU – Single-Game Touchdowns Responsible For: 7 vs. Richmond, 2007
- ASU – Career Touchdowns Responsible For: 37
- ASU – Single-Game Touchdowns Scored: 4 vs. Richmond, 2007
- ASU – Single-Game Points Scored: 24 vs. Richmond, 2007
- ASU – Postseason Wins By a Starting Quarterback: 11
Career
- ASU and Southern – Rushing Yards by a Quarterback: 4,361
- ASU – Passing Yards: 10,392
- ASU – Pass Attempts: 1,180
- ASU – Pass Completions: 768
- ASU and Southern – Completion Percentage :.651
- ASU – Passing Efficiency: 154.2
- ASU – Touchdown Passes: 74
- ASU – Passing Yards per Game: 203.8
- ASU – 200-Yard Passing Games: 24
- ASU and Southern – Total Offense Attempts: 1,935
- ASU and Southern – Total Offense: 14,753
- ASU – Total Offense Per Game: 289.3
- ASU and Southern – Touchdowns Responsible For: 139
- ASU and Southern – 250-Yard Total Offense Games: 35
- ASU and Southern – 300-Yard Total Offense Games: 24
- ASU – 400-Yard Total Offense Games: 8
- ASU – Wins By a Starting Quarterback: 42
Professional career
Carolina Panthers
Edwards was selected in the third round, pick #89, of the 2010 draft by the Carolina Panthers. Edwards could see the field at a variety of positions including wide receiver, kickoff returner, and quarterback in the wildcat formation. He was first activated in the 2010 season for the October 10 game against the Chicago Bears. After a 34-3 loss against New Orleans and the loss of Matt Moore to the injured reserve list, Coach John Fox hinted that Edwards would see more snaps at quarterback in practice. Edwards was named the emergency/third quarterback for the first time before the November 14 game at Tampa Bay, but did not see any game action. On December 12, Edwards featured at quarterback for one snap against the Atlanta Falcons completing a pass to fellow rookie David Gettis for no gain.The Panthers released Edwards on October 8, 2013.