Edwards unknown, but may soon set Grambling records

Photo: Grambling Head Coach Rod Broadway

by Monroe News Star

GRAMBLING, La. — With six games left, Clyde Edwards is nearing several Grambling State records. Coach Rod Broadway says he's better than many receiving superstars of the past, but for some reason just isn't as well known.

"I think Clyde represents everything that is good about college football," Broadway said. "He's a model person, a 4.0 student, and an outstanding football player."

He has 163 receptions for 2,720 yards — more career receiving yards than Trumaine Johnson, who was the Southwestern Athletic Conference offensive player of the year in 1980 and '82.

His 31 touchdowns already have outstripped those of all-conference receiver Tramon Douglas, who set the school's career reception mark in 2003 with 193, and one behind the record set by Johnson and Henry Tolbert in 2005-06.

"I'm not real flashy," Edwards said, "so people tend to overlook me, I guess."

Sammy White, a former Grambling receiver who has coached Southern University's receivers for 10 seasons, said, "When you sit down and compare them, he's going to rank above all of them. He never stopped working, and now he's quietly passed them all. But his demeanor is one where he won't boast. Quiet people can get left behind the scenes sometimes."

Broadway says he's been an assistant at Florida, North Carolina, Duke and East Carolina, and Edwards could have played on any of those teams. "He's an exceptional talent," he said.

Though Edwards was part of 2005's league title team, Grambling was 6-5 his freshman season, and 3-8 last year.

Yet Edwards never wavered. His career mark for catches already ranks him at No. 13 all-time among SWAC receivers, a list that includes Jerry Rice (Mississippi Valley State, 1981-84), Sylvester Morris (Jackson State, 1996-99) and Michael Hayes (Southern, 1999-2002).

White, 1975's SWAC offensive player of the year, said his own mentor, Eddie Robinson, would have loved Edwards' devotion to craft. "Clyde could have played in any era at Grambling," White said.

But opponents have been focusing on Edwards, who is averaging just five receptions, 62 yards and one touchdown a game in 2007.

"I'm getting off to a slow start," Edwards said. "I feel like I've got a lot to improve on right now. The offense has changed, but at the same time, I think I can do some things better."

If he chugs on at his current pace, he would finish with 193 career catches for 3,092 yards and 37 scores for Grambling — better than Scotty Anderson for scores, tying Douglas for receptions and finishing second to Anderson in yardage.

Those numbers also would put Edwards at No. 5 all-time in the SWAC, behind only Rice, Texas Southern's Darrell Colbert (1983-86), Hayes and Texas Southern's Donald Narcisse (also 1983-86).

"I can celebrate and think about all of the records later," Edwards said. "What you want out of your season is to have consistency. Over my career I've been able to do that, and I take pride in the fact that my team and my coaches know every Saturday what they are going to get out of me.

"The rest — hopefully another championship — comes on its own."