Coach Kevin Orr will be saying a tearful good-bye to Cedric Edwards, but opposing coaches will be glad to see the Soddy-Daisy running back graduated and gone.
“Oh my goodness,” Orr replied when asked how he’d say farewell. “He is the best player offensively that I’ve ever coached. He’s one of those once-in-a-lifetime guys.”
Edwards finished his high school career with a flourish Friday, scoring five touchdowns in the Trojans’ 54-14 victory over Warren County. For his efforts, which included a 43-yard touchdown reception, a touchdown pass and a 50-yard punt return for a score, Edwards was selected as the Times Free Press Player of the Week.
In winning the award for the second time the senior ran for 189 yards, averaging 14.5 yards per carry, and his other TDs came on runs of 1, 2 and 42 yards. His touchdown pass covered 38 yards and boosted his total offense number for the night to 306 yards.
“He’s such an unselfish kid that really cared about his teammates,” Orr said. “I don’t think any of the seniors took it harder than him Friday when it finally hit them that they were playing their last game.”
Edwards’ two-year totals are 3,500 rushing yards, 487 receiving yards and 228 points. He finished this year with 1,505 rushing, 447 receiving and 120 points.
“It’s going to be extremely hard to replace him. It won’t be one guy. It’ll probably take about 12,” Orr said.
Interest has picked up the last two or three weeks, the coach said, with Austin Peay and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga dropping by. Carson-Newman also is interested and Orr said Edwards would be there for an unofficial visit next weekend.
“Everyone is sort of waiting to see about his latest ACT score,” the coach said.
Interest may have been piqued because Edwards started playing defense. He was a 5-foot-10, 175-pound linebacker.
“You really don’t want your stud tailback in there playing linebacker, but we got to where we didn’t have a choice and Gary [Orr’s son and the Trojans’ defensive coordinator] put him in there three weeks ago,” the coach said. “We should’ve been doing it all year. He was the type kid who was making plays all over the field. He gave us that big-play guy we’d been looking for all year. I think he could probably play safety or cornerback at the next level. He’s that good.”