DECEMBER 22, 2009 ISSUE
ASU’s Edwards Becomes First Player to Win Consecutive Walter Payton Awards
Last week, Armanti Edwards, the ASU quarterback who graduated on December 13, won his second straight Walter Payton Award as the top FCS player in the country. Edwards took a moment to pause after the award ceremony with one of his mentors, ASU Head Coach Jerry Moore. Photo by Keith Cline, ASU
When fans talk about Armanti Edwards in the coming years, they’ll talk about the plays they saw, the games he won and the honors he accumulated.
Last week, he added another trophy to his already staggering pile and he made history doing so.
Edwards, the ASU quarterback who graduated last week, won his second straight Walter Payton Award as the top FCS player in the country. He was given the award at the Chattanooga Convention Center during the Sports Network’s annual awards banquet.
Edwards is the first player to win two Payton awards and he did it in overwhelming fashion. He received 55 of the 108 first-place votes and finished with 431 points.
Two other players were on hand as finalists for the award, but neither was close to Edwards, as Elon wide receiver Terrell Hudgins had 268 points for second place and Southern Illinois tailback Deji Karim was third with 259 points.
“It’s another great individual achievement, but at the same time I have to tip my hat to my teammates and coaches,” Edwards told Chattanooga Times Free Press after he received the award. “It’s a privilege to win one, let alone a second award.”
Edwards, who graduated last week and plans to enter the NFL Draft next year, finished the season with 3,291 passing yards and 679 rushing yards. He combined to have 30 touchdowns.
Before the award ceremony, Edwards was asked about the possibility of winning it a second time.
“I have been in the shoes that a lot of players want to be in,” he said during the press conference. “I had the great honor to play in two national championships. I know what it feels like to win this award. You can’t ask for anything more than this.”
It would be hard for the Mountaineers to ask much more from Edwards.
He finished his career behind former NFL quarterback Steve McNair for second place in total offense. McNair had 16,823 yards during his career from 1991-94 at Alcorn State. Edwards finished with 14,753 yards.
Edwards is the only player in Division I history (FBS or FCS) to amass at least 9,000 passing yards and 4,000 rushing yards.
He was responsible for 139 touchdowns and finished with 64 ASU and 14 Southern Conference records.
Sports Network established the Walter Payton Award in 1987 and NFL players such as Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (2002, Eastern Illinois) and Philadelphia Eagles running back Brian Westbrook (2001, Villanova) have won the award.
Edwards wasn’t the only Mountaineer in Chattanooga for the awards. Defensive back Mark LeGree finished fifth in the voting for the Buck Buchanan Award, which is presented to the top FCS defensive player. That award was won by James Madison defensive end Arthur Moats.
ASU coach Jerry Moore finished 14th in the voting for the Eddie Robinson Award, which is given to the top FCS coach. Prairie View’s Henry Frazier III won the award.
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