Rhea County tight end Jared Edwards commits to Memphis

After sifting through close to two dozen scholarship offers, Rhea County's Jared Edwards has committed to play football for Memphis.

The American Athletic Conference member was the first to submit an offer (Jan. 22) to the 6-foot-4, 255-pound tight end and defensive tackle.

"There were a lot of things I loved about it. There are a lot of new members of the coaching staff, the facilities and that family feeling," Edwards said. "The offense they run fits what I want to do at the college level, and I feel I'll be a good addition. It's a hard commit."

While he will be penciled in as a tight end, Edwards also could play some at H-back, and Rhea County coach Mark Pemberton said it isn't much of a stretch for him to wind up at offensive tackle.

"It's possible if I keep growing, and if it happens then it happens and that's what I'll play," Edwards said.

"Memphis wants him as that tight end/H-back. Some of them recruiters wanted him as a defensive lineman and some as a tackle," Pemberton added. "He's a big, thick kid that doesn't have much fat on him. He could easily carry 300 (pounds), and he's a good, physical blocker. He's going to get bigger, especially in a college weight room and being at a college training table."

Other schools that have recruited the 4.0 student include Appalachian State, Army, Air Force, Navy, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Middle Tennessee State and Troy.

"I know there were a bunch of them," Pemberton said.

Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com or 423-886-4765. Follow him at Twitter.com/wardgossett.

Upcoming Events