Troy Edwards


Troy Edwards is a former American college and professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League for seven seasons. He played college football for Louisiana Tech University, became one of the most prolific receivers in college football history, earned All-American honors and won the Fred Biletnikoff Award. He was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of the 1999 NFL Draft, and he played professionally for the Steelers, St. Louis Rams, Jacksonville Jaguars and Detroit Lions of the NFL, and the Grand Rapids Rampage of the Arena Football League.

Early years

Edwards was born in Shreveport, Louisiana. He attended Huntington High School in Shreveport, where he played high school football.

College career

Edwards attended Louisiana Tech University, where he played for the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team from 1995 to 1998. As a senior in 1998, he was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American and won the Fred Biletnikoff Award as the best college wide receiver in America at the conclusion of the 1998 season.
In the 1998 season opener versus the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Edwards had 21 catches for 405 yards—the most ever receiving yards in a single game by a college player. His twenty-seven touchdown catches during his 1998 senior year remains the NCAA Division I-A season record. He held the NCAA career record for touchdown receptions with fifty until it was broken by the Rice Owls' Jarett Dillard. His 140 career receptions is the third most in Division I-A history, and his 1,996 receiving yards gained during his senior season remains the second most in Division I-A history.

Professional career

The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Edwards in the first round in the 1999 NFL Draft, and he played for the Steelers from to, followed by a single season for the St. Louis Rams in. He also played for the Jacksonville Jaguars in and, and the Detroit Lions in. In seven NFL seasons, he played in ninety-two games, started twenty-two of them, caught 203 passes for 2,404 yards and eleven touchdowns, and also compiled 1,560 punt return yards.
He finished his professional football career with the Grand Rapids Rampage of the Arena Football League in 2007.

NFL statistics

Receiving Stats
YearTeamGamesReceptionsYardsYards per ReceptionLongest ReceptionTouchdownsFirst DownsFumblesFumbles Lost
1999PIT166171411.74154210
2000PIT141821511.92701100
2001PIT161928314.95701211
2002STL14181578.7482811
2003JAX133548713.98432200
2004JAX165053310.73612522
2005DET32157.580100
Career922032,40411.8841112154

Returning Stats
YearTeamGamesPunt Return AttemptsPunt Return YardsPunts Returned for TouchdownPunts Fair CaughtLongest Punt ReturnKickoff Return AttemptsKickoff Return YardsKickoffs Returned for TouchdownLongest Kickoff Return
1999PIT1625234044813234044
2000PIT140001015298037
2001PIT161083002820462081
2002STL140000010211032
2003JAX1300000120020
2004JAX16326011415335045
Career89383430648741,560081