A look at Armanti Edwards

This comes thanks to Yahoo:

Appalachian State senior
Ht: 5-10 7/8 | Wt: 187 | Sp: 4.45e | Arm: 32 1/4 | Hand: 9 1/2

Notes: Has a daughter. Nicknamed "Money." Also played basketball as a prep. Wanting to play quarterback, turned down scholarship offers from BCS conference schools who viewed him as a receiver. Father, Freddie, is serving a 30-year prison sentence after being convicted of shooting and killing a man over a poker game in 2005. (Freddie claims the gun discharged when the victim grabbed the gun barrel.) The incident occurred during Armanti’s senior high school season, at which point he nearly quit. As a true freshman for ASU in 2006, he opened the season as the backup and learned of his father’s sentencing immediately following the team’s first game. Earned the starting job two weeks later and never relinquished it. Started the final 13 games and completed 167-of-274 pass attempts (60.9 percent) for 2,251 yards with 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Also rushed 188 times for 1,153 yards (6.1-yard average) and 15 TDs. Sprained his right knee against Georgia Southern but did not miss a start. Won a national championship for a second consecutive season in ’07 after starting all 11 games played and passing 148-222-1,948-17-7 (66.7) while leading the team with 237-1,588-21 (6.7) on the ground. Sprained, and chipped a bone in, his left (throwing) shoulder during a preseason scrimmage but still managed to spearhead a road upset of Michigan in the season opener. Despite aggravating the injury during the contest, Edwards accounted for 289 total yards (227 passing, 62 rushing) with four TDs and directed a seven-play, 69-yard drive in the final two minutes that set up the game-winning field goal. After sitting out two games, he re-aggravated the shoulder against Wofford and missed two more contests. Had a career day in the semifinals against Richmond, piling up 495 total yards (313 rushing, 182 passing) and seven TDs (four rushing, three passing). His single-game rushing total is the highest ever by a I-AA quarterback. During the Mountaineers’ playoff march (four games), Edwards amassed 1,387 yards of total offense (727 passing, 660 rushing) and 16 TDs. The Walter Payton Award winner (top player in I-AA) in ’08, Edwards started all 13 games played, tossing 196-306-2,902-30-9 (64.1) with 193-941-11 (4.9) on the ground. Was held in check by LSU, as he managed just 13-31-155-1-0 passing, though he was outstanding in the national semifinals once again, racking up 481 total yards (433 passing, 48 rushing) and five TDs (four passing, one rushing) against South Carolina State. Tweaked an ankle against Presbyterian and suffered a hip pointer against Elon that sidelined him against Western Carolina. Had arthroscopic right knee surgery in January ’09. Missed much of training camp and the season opener in ’09 after he cut his right foot in a freak lawn-mowing accident on Aug. 5, when he was pulling a mower up a wet hill and slipped, requiring more than 35 stitches to keep his pinky toe. Had another outstanding season, throwing for 257-378-3,291-12-7 (68.0) in 12 starts and rushing for 679 yards and 18 TDs. Is the only two-time winner of the Walter Payton Award and the only player in Division I history with at least 9,000 passing yards and 4,000 rushing yards. Has a 42-7 record as a starter. Team captain.

Positives: Has a textbook over-the-top delivery and high release point for his size. Good arm strength and accuracy - can throw strikes downfield and drive the ball. Very quick and sudden - can pull a rabbit out of his hat and improvise on broken plays (see McNeese State) - continues scanning the field on the move and is field-fast and elusive when he tucks the ball and runs. Experienced, four-year starter. Keeps his composure under duress and is not easily rattled. Highly competitive and driven. Tough runner. Outstanding production.

Negatives: Worked exclusively out of the shotgun in a spread-option offense featuring a lot of predetermined, one-look reads and rarely stepped up in the pocket. Had a fair number of balls batted at the line and could struggle to find open passing lanes in the pros, given his lack of height. Throws too many wobblers. Struggled against the speed of LSU’s defense, and production is inflated from consistently facing marginal competition. Has a fragile build and a history of injuries, which are concerns - his foot will require close inspection. Is not a developed route runner and lacks experience fielding the ball as a returner.

Summary: A dazzling southpaw, Edwards may never be more than an ideal backup and situational, specialty quarterback. Yet he is not a throwaway at the QB position; he has the run skills and creativity to project as a slot receiver and return man. Could spark an offense in specially designed packages that feature his playmaking ability. Injury history must be examined and could affect his draft status.

NFL projection: Mid-round pick.

The Waberjaguars take: I think the Jaguars will go after him in the sixth if he's still on the board and they can't get either Pike or Tebow in the 2nd/3rd. He seems very interesting, I think something like a shorter Kordell Stewart. What's your thoughts? Tell me below...