Donovan Edwards
{{Short description|American football player (born 2003)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
|name = Donovan Edwards
|image = File:MBN S24G00 SPRINGGAME-56 (53668835529) (cropped).jpg
|caption = Edwards with the Michigan Wolverines in 2024
| current_team = New York Jets
| number =
| position = Running back
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2003|2|25}}
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 11
| weight_lb = 205
| high_school = West Bloomfield (West Bloomfield, Michigan)
| college = {{ubl|Michigan (2021–2024)}}
| undraftedyear= 2025
| pastteams =
- New York Jets ({{NFL Year|2025}}–present)
| status = Active
| highlights =
| statseason = 2025
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Rushing yards
| statvalue1 =
| statlabel2 = Rushing average
| statvalue2 =
| statlabel3 = Rushing touchdowns
| statvalue3 =
| statlabel4 = Receptions
| statvalue4 =
| statlabel5 = Receiving yards
| statvalue5 =
| statlabel6 = Receiving touchdowns
| statvalue6 =
| pfr =
}}
Donovan Edwards (born February 25, 2003) is an American professional football running back for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines, winning three consecutive Big Ten Conference titles and a national championship in 2023. Edwards is the only player in college football history to have multiple 40-yard touchdown runs in a national championship game.
Early life
Edwards was born on February 25, 2003, in West Bloomfield, Michigan, the son of Kevin and Donna Edwards.{{ cite web|title=Donovan Edwards|publisher=University of Michigan|accessdate=December 27, 2022|url=https://mgoblue.com/sports/football/roster/donovan-edwards/22082}} His mother died from cancer in 2005 when he was two years old. He was raised by his father and older brother Kevin Jr.{{cite web | last=Farrell | first=Perry A. | title=Mom's memory drives West Bloomfield's Donovan Edwards | website=Detroit Free Press | date=September 24, 2018 | url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/high-school/2018/09/24/donovan-edwards-west-bloomfield-recruiting/1406233002/ | access-date=October 4, 2024}} Edwards' grandfather Charlie Primas Jr. won Mr. Basketball of Michigan in 1950.
Edwards played high school football at West Bloomfield High School, under head coach Ronald Bellamy, who would later join Edwards at the University of Michigan as an assistant coach. He was high school teammates with Makari Paige and Semaj Morgan. As a senior, he rushed for 1,502 yards and 30 touchdowns, leading West Bloomfield to an MHSAA division 1 state championship.{{cite web | last=Purcell | first=Jared | title=‘They can’t catch me’: Michigan signee Donovan Edwards runs wild in West Bloomfield’s state title win | website=mlive | date=January 23, 2021 | url=https://www.mlive.com/highschoolsports/2021/01/they-cant-catch-me-michigan-signee-donovan-edwards-runs-wild-in-west-bloomfields-state-title-victory.html?outputType=amp | access-date=October 4, 2024}}
In 2020, Edwards was also honored as the Michigan Gatorade Player of the Year,{{cite web | last=Fisher | first=Jeff | title=Donovan Edwards of West Bloomfield is named Gatorade Michigan High School Football Player of the Year | website=High School Football America | date=May 15, 2021 | url=https://highschoolfootballamerica.com/donovan-edwards-of-west-bloomfield-is-named-gatorade-michigan-high-school-football-player-of-the-year/ | access-date=October 4, 2024}} selected as the captain of the Detroit Free Press Dream Team,{{cite web | last=McCabe | first=Mick | last2=Dunlap | first2=Keith | last3=Wilson | first3=Wright | title=Meet the Detroit Free Press 2020 football Dream Team | website=Detroit Free Press | date=January 31, 2021 | url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/high-school/2021/01/31/meet-detroit-free-press-2020-football-dream-team/4247133001/ | access-date=October 4, 2024}} and was received the Michigan Mr. Football Award. He was rated as a five-star recruit by 247Sports.{{cite web | last=Brown | first=Brandon | title=Michigan Early Enrollee Earns State's Highest Honor | website=Sports Illustrated | date=January 30, 2021 | url=https://www.si.com/college/michigan/football/michigan-football-recruiting-donovan-edwards-mr-football-jim-harbaugh-mike-hart-running-back-class-2021 | access-date=October 4, 2024}}
College career
=Freshman season (2021)=
In December 2020, Edwards committed to the University of Michigan. He announced the decision on ESPN, choosing Michigan over the University of Georgia, University of Notre Dame and the University of Oklahoma.{{cite web | last=Sang | first=Orion | title=Donovan Edwards picks Michigan football on national signing day | website=Detroit Free Press | date=December 16, 2020 | url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/university-michigan/wolverines/2020/12/16/donovan-edwards-michigan-football-recruiting-class-2021/3907224001/ | access-date=October 4, 2024}} He enrolled early at Michigan in January 2021.{{cite web | last=Brown | first=Brandon | title=Star Michigan Signee Donovan Edwards Goes Off | website=Sports Illustrated | date=January 10, 2021 | url=https://www.si.com/college/michigan/recruiting/michigan-football-recruiting-donovan-edwards-jim-harbaugh-west-bloomfield-state-playoffs-running-back-ron-bellamy | access-date=October 4, 2024}}
In the 2021 season, Edwards rushed for 174 yards on eight carries and caught 20 passes for 265 yards. He scored his first two touchdowns against Northern Illinois on September 18, 2021, a 4-yard and 58-yard touchdown.{{cite web | last=Zuke | first=Ryan | title=Michigan RB Donovan Edwards scores first career TDs: ‘There’s gonna be many more runs like that’ | website=mlive | date=September 19, 2021 | url=https://www.mlive.com/wolverines/2021/09/michigan-rb-donovan-edwards-scores-first-career-tds-theres-gonna-be-many-more-runs-like-that.html | access-date=October 4, 2024}} In the first half of the Big Ten Championship Game against Iowa, Edwards threw a 75-yard touchdown pass to Roman Wilson, after receiving a backwards pass from quarterback Cade McNamara.{{Cite web |last=Kosko |first=Nick |date=December 4, 2021 |title=Michigan RB Donovan Edwards throws 75-yard touchdown in Big Ten Championship Game |url=https://247sports.com/Article/Michigan-RB-Donovan-Edwards-throws-75-yard-touchdown-in-Big-Ten-Championship-Game-177327495/ |website=247Sports |access-date=May 28, 2022 }}
=Sophomore season (2022)=
In 2022, Edwards played in 11 games, with three starts. Edwards rushed for 991 yards, had 200 yards receiving, and scored nine touchdowns. He earned his first career start against Michigan State on October 29, and totaled 80 yards in the win. On November 26, Edwards led Michigan to a 45-23 victory against rival Ohio State in Columbus, rushing for 216 yards with touchdown runs of 75 and 85 yards in the fourth quarter.{{cite web | last=Breiler | first=Christopher | title=Edwards Makes U-M History Against Buckeyes | website=Sports Illustrated | date=November 28, 2022 | url=https://www.si.com/college/michigan/football/michigan-football-donovan-edwards-ohio-state-big-ten-championship-jim-harbaugh | access-date=October 4, 2024}}
The following week, in the Big Ten Championship Game, Edwards rushed for 185 yards and one touchdown against Purdue to win the conference championship, and earn the Big Ten Championship MVP award.{{cite web | last=Garcia | first=Tony | title=Michigan football beats Purdue for second straight Big Ten title | website=Detroit Free Press | date=December 4, 2022 | url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/university-michigan/wolverines/2022/12/04/michigan-football-game-recap-purdue-big-ten-championship/69698851007/ | access-date=October 4, 2024}} On December 31, in the Fiesta Bowl (CFP semifinal), Edwards rushed for his third straight 100-yard game with 119 yards on 23 carries in the loss to TCU.{{cite web | last=McMann | first=Aaron | title=Michigan RB Donovan Edwards reportedly played through second injury in 2022 | website=mlive | date=June 12, 2023 | url=https://www.mlive.com/wolverines/2023/06/michigan-rb-donovan-edwards-reportedly-played-through-second-injury-in-2022.html?outputType=amp | access-date=October 4, 2024}}
=Junior season (2023)=
In 2023, Edwards played in all 15 games on Michigan's national championship team, finishing with 746 rushing and receiving yards, five touchdowns and a career-high 30 receptions.
In the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship, Edwards rushed for 104 yards, including touchdown runs of 41 and 46 yards. He became the first player in college football history, since the BCS launched in 1998, to have two rushing touchdowns of over 40 yards in a national championship game, and led Michigan to victory versus the Washington Huskies.{{Cite web |last=Hole |first=Isaiah |date=January 12, 2024 |title=Donovan Edwards' patience and faithfulness paid off in biggest moment |url=https://wolverineswire.usatoday.com/2024/01/12/michigan-football-donovan-edwards-national-championship-faith-in-god-two-touchdowns/#:~:text=It%2520didn't%2520take%2520long,in%2520a%2520most%2520spectacular%2520way. |access-date=October 4, 2024 |website=Wolverines Wire|publisher=USA Today |language=en-US}} {{cite web | last=Wilson | first=Dave | title=Donovan Edwards had his breakout game for Michigan at just the right time | website=ESPN.com | date=January 9, 2024 | url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/39270343/donovan-edwards-michigan-college-football-national-champions | access-date=October 4, 2024}}
Donovan Edwards (104 yards) and Blake Corum (134 yards) also became the first pair of teammates in college football playoff history to each rush for over 100 yards in the national championship game.{{Cite web |date=January 10, 2024 |title=Michigan Wins CFB National Title |url=https://www.afca.com/michigan-wins-cfp-national-title/ |access-date=October 4, 2024 |website=American Football Coaches Association}}
=Senior season (2024)=
Entering his senior season, Edwards was ranked as one of the top running backs in college football by members of the media.{{cite web |title=Ranking college football's top 10 running backs in 2024 | website=ESPN.com | date=March 8, 2024 | url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/39654433/ranking-top-10-running-backs-college-football-2024 | access-date=October 4, 2024}}{{cite web | last=Chadwick | first=Max | title=College Football: The top-10 returning running backs for the 2024 season | website=PFF | date=February 15, 2024 | url=https://www.pff.com/news/college-football-the-top-10-returning-running-backs-for-the-2024-season | access-date=October 4, 2024}}{{cite web | last=Brumm | first=Luke | title=Top Five for 2024: Running Back Edition | website=Mike Farrell Sports | date=May 13, 2024 | url=https://mikefarrellsports.com/college/top-five-for-2024-running-back-edition | access-date=October 4, 2024}} He was also named one of the three cover athletes for EA Sports College Football 25, joining Quinn Ewers and Travis Hunter.{{Cite web |last=Rittenberg |first=Adam |date=May 16, 2024 |title=Hunter, Ewers, Edwards share video game cover |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/40156723/travis-hunter-quinn-ewers-donovan-edwards-share-ea-sports-cover |access-date=May 16, 2024 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nfl.com/videos/michigan-wolverines-rb-donovan-edwards-joins-nfl-total-access|title= Michigan RB Donovan Edwards Joins “NFL Total Access”|website=NFL}}
Edwards assumed the role as the leader for the Wolverines in 2024 and was voted as team captain, filling both the starting running back and leadership position held by his predecessor Blake Corum.{{Cite web |last=McMann |first=Aaron |date=March 20, 2024 |title=Michigan RB Donovan Edwards ‘has a chip on his shoulder,’ motivated in new role |url=https://mlive.com/wolverines/2024/03/michigan-rb-donovan-edwards-has-a-chip-on-his-shoulder-motivated-in-new-role.html |access-date=July 10, 2024 |website=mlive.com |language=en}}{{cite web | last=McMann | first=Aaron | title=Michigan football’s 4 captains for 2024 aim to follow blueprint for success | website=mlive | date=August 22, 2024 | url=https://www.mlive.com/wolverines/2024/08/michigan-footballs-4-captains-for-2024-aim-to-follow-blueprint-for-success.html?outputType=amp | access-date=October 4, 2024}} After a slow start to the season, in week three versus Arkansas State, Edwards rushed for 82 yards and scored his first rushing touchdown of the season; second total touchdown.{{cite web|url= https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore/_/gameId/401628479#home|title=Michigan v. Arkansas State (2024)|website=ESPN}} In week four against the USC Trojans, Edwards rushed for 74 yards and a touchdown.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore/_/gameId/401628489#home|title=Michigan v. USC (2024)|website=ESPN}} In week six versus Washington, Edwards carried the ball 14 times for 95 yards and a touchdown.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore/_/gameId/401628505|title=Michigan v. Washington (2024)|website=ESPN}} In week nine versus Michigan State, Edwards accounted for 64 total yards, including the game deciding 23-yard touchdown pass to Colston Loveland in the fourth quarter, as Michigan defeated the Spartans 24-17.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/game/_/gameId/401628529/michigan-st-michigan|title=Michigan v. Michigan State (2024)|website=ESPN}}
Edwards was injured in the final regular season game versus Ohio State, and opted out of the ReliaQuest Bowl. He concluded his career at the University of Michigan with a 47-8 team record, three Big Ten championships, the 2022 Big Ten Championship MVP, as a national champion, and was 4-0 against rival Ohio State. In his four years, he finished second all-time in receiving yards among Michigan running backs, and had more than 3,000 all-purpose yards with 25 total touchdowns.{{cite web | last=Garcia | first=Tony | title=Michigan football's Donovan Edwards opts out of bowl game vs Alabama | website=Detroit Free Press | date=2024-12-15 | url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/university-michigan/wolverines/2024/12/15/donovan-edwards-michigan-bowl-game-opt-out-alabama/77008601007/ | access-date=2025-03-09}}
=Statistics=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ College statistics ! colspan="12" style=" {{CollegePrimaryStyle|Michigan Wolverines}} | Michigan Wolverines | ||||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Season
! colspan="2"| Games ! colspan="4"| Rushing ! colspan="4"| Receiving | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Att | Yards | Avg | TD | Rec | Yards | Avg | TD | |
| 2021
| 12 || 0 || 35 || 174 || 5.0 || 3 || 20 || 265 || 13.3 || 1 | ||||||||||
| 2022
| 11 || 3 || 140 || 991 || 7.1 || 7 || 18 || 200 || 11.1 || 2 | ||||||||||
| 2023
| 15 || 1 || 119 || 497 || 4.2 || 5 || 30 || 249 || 8.3 || 0 | ||||||||||
| 2024
| 12 || 4|| 128 || 589 || 4.6 || 4 || 18 || 83 || 4.6 || 1 | ||||||||||
| [https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/donovan-edwards-1.html Career] | 50 | 8 | 422 | 2,251 | 5.3 | 19 | 86 | 797 | 9.3 | 4 |
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 5
| height in = 11 3/8
| weight = 205
| dash = 4.44
| ten split = 1.51
| twenty split = 2.58
| vertical = 38.5
| bench = 23
| arm span = 30
| hand span = 10
| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/donovan-edwards/32004544-5732-9231-65a3-395dc57c402e |title=Donovan Edwards Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=March 1, 2025}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1052980&DraftYear=2025 |title=Donovan Edwards College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=March 1, 2025}}
}}
On April 26, 2025, Edwards signed with the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlive.com/wolverines/2025/04/michigan-udfa-tracker-where-did-the-undrafted-wolverines-end-up.html |title=Michigan UDFA tracker: Undrafted Edwards, Paige ink NFL deals |website=MLive.com |first=Aaron |last=Mcmann |date=April 26, 2025 |access-date=April 26, 2025}}
Personal life
Edwards is a devout Christian.{{Cite web |last=Hole |first=Isaiah |date=December 30, 2023 |title=Donovan Edwards shares his Christian testimony, staying patient in 2023 season |url=https://wolverineswire.usatoday.com/2023/12/30/donovan-edwards-shares-his-christian-testimony-staying-patient-in-2023-season/ |access-date=July 10, 2024 |website=Wolverines Wire|publisher=USA Today |language=en-US}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- [https://mgoblue.com/sports/football/roster/donovan-edwards/24340 Michigan Wolverines bio]
{{2023 Michigan Wolverines football navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Edwards, Donovan}}
Category:American football running backs
Category:Michigan Wolverines football players
Category:Sportspeople from West Bloomfield, Michigan
Category:Players of American football from Oakland County, Michigan