Once upon a time, Mike Edwards was playing trombone in the school band when someone suggested he try out for football.
Flash forward to 2023, and Edwards has built a resume full of all-conference and all-American honors on the gridiron while playing for Campbell University. The standout offensive lineman enters his final season with the Camels considered one of the top trench-workers in all of FCS and has put his name on the radar of NFL scouts in the process.
With Campbell among the schools taking center stage on Tuesday at CAA Media Day, here’s the scoop on one of the Camels’ biggest – literally and figuratively – returning players:
#75 Mike Edwards, Campbell offensive tackle
Class: Graduate Student
Measurables: 6-7/355 pounds
Hometown: Hope Mills, NC
High School/Previous School: South View HS/Wake Forest University
Notes: Became the first Campbell offensive lineman to earn All-American recognition, being voted to the American Football Coaches Association second-team for FCS … Also earned first-team All-Big South in the Camels’ final year in that league …
Helped anchor the left side of the line a year ago, as Campbell set a single-season school record for passing yards (2,915 yards/265 per game, along with 16 passing TDs). Campbell’s “O” earned 500+ yards of offense against NC Central, Robert Morris, NC A&T and Bryant …
Has garnered preseason All-American consideration from The Blue Bloods (second-team FCS) and the CFB Network (second team). HERO Sports named Edwards the No. 7 returning offensive lineman in FCS …
Started the first seven games of the 2021 season, helping Campbell set what was then a new season record for passing yards (2,901) as well as touchdowns (24) … Started all four of the Camels games during the 2020 COVID-shortened season. Campbell earned 362 total yards against Wake Forest and 369 against Georgia Southern …
Began his college career at Wake Forest, redshirting in 2018 and sitting out in 2019 due to an injury Considered a four-star prospect and the No. 28 recruit from North Carolina coming out of South View …
Edwards and fellow graduate offensive lineman Tyler McLellan (6-8, 355 pounds) will make for one of the most imposing tackle combos in all of college football this fall. That could translate into an audition for both to play on Sundays in 2024. “Neither tackle is an exceptional athlete,” writes Pro Football Network in a recent post on draft worthy FCS players, “but both should receive looks purely on the draw of their frames and potential.”
More from our Preseason Watch List
- Announcing our preseason D3/NAIA All-North Carolina Team
Brevard’s Ethan Beamish, Greensboro’s Max Steele, NC Wesleyan’s Braxtyn Green headline honors list - D3 Football: Brevard picked 4th in USA South preseason poll
Tornados are highest ranked NC team; NC Wesleyan, Greensboro, Methodist follow - Western Carolina football hoping to wake up the echoes from magical 1983 season
Ingredients in place for Catamounts to claim first playoff berth in four decades - THE FABULOUS 15: Which Teams Are Set To Have The Most Special Seasons?
Lenoir-Rhyne will seek to defend its title; NC State starts atop our 2024 rankings - Announcing our preseason D2 All-North Carolina Team
Lenoir-Rhyne’s DeAree Rogers, Wingate’s Marquise Fleming and Catawba’s Bo Pryor headline our MVPs - Barton standout Kameron Johnson moves closer to making NFL roster
Rookie WR is expected to play in Tampa Bay’s preseason game Friday against Dolphins - Announcing our preseason FCS All-North Carolina Team
WCU’s Cole Gonzales, Elon’s Caleb Curtain, Davidson’s Adam Zouagui headline our top players list - The Big Ones: Top 15 games involving North Carolina’s FCS teams
Plenty of compelling in-state match-ups highlight the 2024 calendar
