 Armanti Edwards. Photo by Tommy Penick
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by ROB JENKINS
Sports Editor
by LINDSEY HUNTSINGER
Sports Reporter
Playmaker. Leader. Competitor. These are the words that come to mind when coaches and teammates are asked to describe senior quarterback Armanti Edwards.
“That means a lot,” Edwards said. “It shows just how much respect they have for me, and I have so much respect for them.”
As the senior’s final regular season game quickly approaches, many are beginning to reflect on the outstanding accomplishments of Edwards’ career.
In his freshman
season at Appalachian, Edwards won the starting quarterback position
from junior Trey Elder, and led the Mountaineers to a school best 14-1
season, and their second straight national championship.
Edwards
cemented himself as the face of the Mountaineers’ program when he led
his team to a 34-32 victory over Michigan in the opening game of his
sophomore year.
“You
know, the stupidest question you ever get asked if you’re me is ‘Which
means more to you, winning three national championships, or beating
Michigan?’” athletics director Charlie Cobb said. “I always laugh and I
go, ‘Why do you have to choose?’ You don’t have to, so why do that?”
 Armanti Edwards prepares to pass the ball during Appalachian State's match against LSU last year. Photo by Holt Menzies
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Appalachian’s defeat of Michigan was the first time a FCS team beat a top five FBS opponent.
Even
though they lost two conference games in the 2007 season, Edwards
performed well when it mattered, leading the Mountaineers to their
third consecutive national title with a 49-21 romp over Delaware.
“You
know coming in his freshman year and making a big impact, and from then
until now having a big effect on the team, it means a lot to us,”
redshirt sophomore Brian Quick said. “He means a lot to us as a person,
period. He’s like a brother to everybody.”
With age
and experience came a higher degree of perfection in Edwards’ game. He
improved his passing game from 1,948 yards in 2007 to 2,902 yards in
2008.
“Through
experience he’s become smarter and sharper in his reads, especially in
the passing game,” Glenn said. “Obviously, he’s become a phenomenal
passer. Early on in his career people kind of overlooked that a little
bit, or maybe they didn’t overlook it, maybe it was just because he was
so good in the run game.”
Unfortunately
for the Mountaineers, Edwards’ improved stats did not translate into a
national title in the 2008 season. In the quarterfinals of the FCS
playoffs, Edwards had one of the worst performances of his career,
throwing five interceptions in a 33-13 loss to the Richmond Spiders.
“We keep in mind how we got embarrassed here last year and it motivates us for the playoffs this year,” Edwards said.
Edwards’
poor playoff performance did not overshadow a spectacular season, as he
won the 2008 Walter Payton award, the top award given in the FCS.
“When
[the coaches] recruited him, I don’t think they anticipated this kind
of player,” Cobb said. “But he’s made himself into something pretty
special.”
Edwards
is the most decorated player in Appalachian State history, and holds
top spots in both Southern Conference and Appalachian record books.
“I don’t
know how it was far back in the day, but he’s got to be number one out
of anyone I’ve gotten to see play, or seen on film, or anything,” tight
end Ben Jorden said. “He’s got to be number one.”
During
the Mountaineers’ game against Furman this year, Edwards became the
first Division I (FBS or FCS) player ever to pass for 9,000 yards and
rush for 4,000 yards in a career.
Although
Edwards will soon have to take off his black and gold jersey for the
last time, the legacy he has built will not fade quickly from the minds
of Appalachian coaches, players and alumni.
“He’s
raised the bar as far as our team goes, he’s raised the bar as far as
our offense goes, and he’s raised the bar as far as every other
quarterback that’ll ever play here at Appalachian from here on out,”
Glenn said. “He’s set just about every record. He’s just raised the
level of everything, and it’s going to be hard to step into his shoes,
whoever does it.”
Photos by Tommy Penick and Holt Menzies | The Appalachian
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