Panthers pick Edwards as wide receiver

Armanti Edwards drops back to pass against Elon last fall. Edwards was recently drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft. Photo by Tommy Penick | The Appalachian

Now former Appalachian State quarterback Armanti Edwards has another honor to add to his illustrious career: NFL draft choice.

The Carolina Panthers traded a 2011 second round draft pick to the New England Patriots to move into the third round to draft Edwards as the No. 89 overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.

“Well my agent told me [I would be drafted] anywhere between third round and fifth round,” Edwards said. “I was kind of anticipating fourth round. I had Carolina in my mind, but my agent also told me the teams that showed the most interest more than likely were the ones that wouldn’t get me. So it was kind of surprising.”

Though he spent his entire career at Appalachian as a quarterback, the Panthers drafted Edwards to play wide receiver. Many NFL experts have said Edwards is too small at 6’0’’, 184 pounds, to play quarterback in the NFL.

Edwards will also likely see time at kick and punt returner.

“I’ve been trying to practice on catching kicks and punts,” Edwards said. “Everybody likes my athletic ability. If I get comfortable at returning kicks, I think I can do pretty good at it.”

Edwards, a native of Greenwood, S.C., said he was happy to be taken by a team that was close to home.

“It means a lot, still staying close to home,” Edwards said. “I will get to see my family a lot. They’ll get to come to a lot of the games, so it means a lot.”

Edwards was the first Mountaineer to be selected in the NFL Draft since the Tampa Bay Buccaneers picked Dexter Jackson in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft.

Story: ROB JENKINS , Sports Editor
Photo: TOMMY PENICK, Photographer