Mike Edwards III

Position:
Linebacker
Height:
6-1
Weight:
221
Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Trussville, Ala.
High School:
Hewitt-Trussville
Prev School:
Georgia Southern
Major:
Entrepreneurship

Career Notes: Four-year letterman (3/East Carolina, 1/Georgia Southern) who appeared in 49 career games making 34 starts … Booked 212 total tackles) … Credited with 24.0 TFLs (-65 yards) including 1.5 sacks (-8 yards) …. Registered at least one tackle in 46 of 49 games (multiple 39 times) … Credited with five pass breakups and four quarterback hurries … Closed out career having started 16 consecutive games.

2024: Earned third varsity letter after starting all 13 games … Received the Captain’s Award at year end football banquet … Named College Football News AAC Honorable Mention … Selected as gameday captain against Temple … Booked 75 total tackles (26 solo) … Recorded 9.0 TFLs (-20 yards) which included a half sack at Old Dominion for four yards … Registered four pass breakups with two coming against UTSA (others: Army and Temple) … Credited with quarterback hurries at Liberty and against NC State in the Military Bowl … Notched at least one tackle in 12 of 13 contests (multiple 12 times) … Tallied a season-best 11 stops against Navy … Opened the season recording at least a half TFL in six-straight contests … In all, registered TFLs against Norfolk State (1.5/-2 yards), Old Dominion (2.0/-7 yards), Appalachian State (0.5 /-1 yard), Liberty (0.5/-1 yard), UTSA (1.5/-2 yards), Charlotte (2.0/-5 yards), North Texas (0.5/-1 yard) and Navy (0.5/-1 yard) … Recorded five or more stops in a game on 10 occasions … Named 2024 Preseason Second Team All-AAC by Phil Steele Magazine and a Fourth Team selection aby Athlon Sports.

2023: Started 11 of 12 games for the Pirates earning second varsity letter … Logged 575 total snaps (499 defense, 76 special teams) … Booked 61 tackles (36 solo) … Registered 8.0 TFLs (-31 yards) which included a four-yard sack at Appalachian State … Credited with two quarterback hurries (Appalachian State, Florida Atlantic) … Recorded at least one tackle in all 12 games (multiple 11 times) … Established career-high in tackles (13) at Appalachian State … Posted TFLs against Michigan (1.0/-1 yard), Marshall (1.5/-15 yards), Appalachian State (1.5/-4 yards), Gardner-Webb (0.5/-1 yard), Rice (1.0/-2 yards), Charlotte (1.5/-2 yards) and Navy (1.0/-5 yards) … Tallied five or more tackles in a game six times … Named Preseason Honorable Mention All-AAC by College Football Network (special teams).

2022: Played in all 13 games during initial year with the program … Earned first varsity letter after tallying 17 tackles (seven solo) … Logged 279 total snaps (53 defense, 226 special teams) … Booked at least one stop in 10 or 13 contests (multiple five times) … Credited with one pass breakup against UCF … Notched a season-best four tackles against UCF (one solo) … Also recorded multiple stops against NC State (two), Navy (two), Memphis (two) and BYU (two) … Posted an assisted tackle against Coastal Carolina in the TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl.

2021 (Georgia Southern): Played in 11 games, starting the final nine earning a varsity letter … Played 578 total snaps (470 on defense, 108 on special teams) … Posted 59 tackles (27 solo) … Added 7.0 TFLs and two quarterback hurries … Registered multiple stops in all 11 games played with a season-best 10 against Appalachian State which included a half TFL … Saw his first collegiate action at Florida Atlantic, playing 15 total snaps with three tackles … Had five stops, including one tackle for loss, at Arkansas … Made his first collegiate start against Louisiana, posting five tackles … Posted two stops, including half a tackle for loss, against Arkansas State … Had five stops at Troy and another five at South Alabama … Posted five tackles, including one for a loss, and a quarterback hurry against Georgia State … Had eight tackles, including two for loss, against Coastal Carolina … Had six tackles, including 1.5 for loss, and a quarterback hurry in the win at Texas State … Posted five tackles against BYU.

High School: Played at Hewitt-Trussville High for Coach Josh Floyd … Averaged eight tackles per game as a senior … Ranked the No. 107 outside linebacker in the country by 247Sports Composite Rankings … Also played basketball.

Personal: Born Michael Anthony Edwards III on October 4 in Trussville, AL … Son of Michael Edwards II, Dee Edwards and Tamika Stove … Has a brother, Johari Burnnette, and two sisters, Aubrey Edwards and Angel Stove.