Earl Edwards Jr.

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Earl Edwards Jr.

| image = CINvOCB 2017-05-13 - Earl Edwards Jr (33814834584) (cropped).jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Edwards with Orlando City B in 2017

| fullname = Earl William Edwards Jr.

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|1|24}}

| birth_place = San Diego, California, United States

| height = 6 ft 3 in{{cite web |title=Earl Edwards Jr. |url=https://www.revolutionsoccer.net/players/earl-edwards-jr/ |publisher=New England Revolution |access-date=23 August 2022}}

| position = Goalkeeper

| currentclub = San Jose Earthquakes

| clubnumber = 36

| youthyears1 = 2007–2009

| youthclubs1 = IMG Academy

| youthyears2 = 2009–2010

| youthclubs2 = Nomads SC{{cite web|url = https://www.nomadssoccer.org/alumninomads|publisher = NOMADS Soccer Club|title = Alumni|access-date = 2022-09-30}}

| collegeyears1 = 2010–2014

| college1 = UCLA Bruins

| collegecaps1 = 61

| collegegoals1 = 0

| years1 = 2012

| clubs1 = Ventura County Fusion

| caps1 = 6

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2013

| clubs2 = Seattle Sounders FC U-23

| caps2 = 8

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2014

| clubs3 = Ventura County Fusion

| caps3 = 1

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2015–2018

| clubs4 = Orlando City

| caps4 = 6

| goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2016–2017

| clubs5 = Orlando City B

| caps5 = 25

| goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2019–2020

| clubs6 = D.C. United

| caps6 = 0

| goals6 = 0

| years7 = 2019–2020

| clubs7 = → Loudoun United (loan)

| caps7 = 16

| goals7 = 0

| years8 = 2021–2024

| clubs8 = New England Revolution

| caps8 = 15

| goals8 = 0

| years9 = 2021–2022

| clubs9 = New England Revolution II

| caps9 = 5

| goals9 = 0

| years10 = 2025–

| clubs10 = San Jose Earthquakes

| caps10 = 0

| goals10 = 0

| nationalyears1 = 2007–2009

| nationalteam1 = United States U17

| nationalcaps1 = 17

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| medaltemplates =

| club-update = December 30, 2024

| nationalteam-update = June 19, 2015

}}

Earl William Edwards Jr. (born January 24, 1992) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Major League Soccer club San Jose Earthquakes.

College and amateur

Edwards spent his entire college career at UCLA, including a red-shirted year in 2010. He made a total of 61 appearances for the Bruins and finished with 19 shutouts and a 1.07 Goals Against Average. He was named first team All-Pac-12 in 2013 and 2014.

Edwards also played in the Premier Development League for Ventura County Fusion and Seattle Sounders FC U-23.{{cite web|title=2012 Ventura County Fusion stats|url=http://www.uslpdl.com/teams/2012/6188518.html#STATS|website=USLPDL.com|publisher=Premier Development League|access-date=June 19, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150620022225/http://www.uslpdl.com/teams/2012/6188518.html#STATS|archive-date=June 20, 2015|url-status=dead}}{{cite web |title=2013 Seattle Sounders FC U-23 stats |url=http://www.uslpdl.com/teams/2013/4480101.html#STATS |website=USLPDL.com |publisher=Premier Development League |access-date=June 19, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150612134130/http://www.uslpdl.com/teams/2013/4480101.html#STATS |archive-date=June 12, 2015 }}{{cite web|title=2014 Ventura County Fusion stats|url=http://www.uslpdl.com/teams/2014/6188518.html#STATS|website=USLPDL.com|publisher=Premier Development League|access-date=June 19, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150704141318/http://www.uslpdl.com/teams/2014/6188518.html#STATS|archive-date=July 4, 2015|url-status=dead}}

Professional career

= Orlando City =

On January 20, 2015, Edwards was selected in the third round (43rd overall) of the 2015 MLS SuperDraft by Orlando City and signed a professional contract with the club a month later.{{cite web|title=Orlando City Signs SuperDraft Selection Earl Edwards Jr.|url=http://www.orlandocitysc.com/post/2015/02/25/orlando-city-signs-superdraft-selection-earl-edwards-jr|website=OrlandoCitySC.com|publisher=Orlando City SC|access-date=June 19, 2015|date=February 25, 2015}} He made his professional debut on June 17 in a 2015 U.S. Open Cup match against Charleston Battery. Orlando went on to advance on penalties.{{cite web|last1=Chin|first1=Jhamie|title=Match Recap: Orlando City Defeats Charleston Battery in Dramatic 10-Round Penalty Kick Shootout to Advance in the U.S. Open Cup|url=http://www.orlandocitysc.com/post/2015/06/17/match-recap-orlando-city-defeats-charleston-battery-dramatic-10-round-penalty-kick|website=OrlandoCitySC.com|access-date=June 19, 2015|date=June 17, 2015}}

He was loaned to Orlando City B in March 2016 before becoming the first-choice keeper in the 2017 USL season.{{cite web|url=http://www.orlandocitysc.com/post/2016/03/25/orlando-city-sc-loan-seven-players-ocb|title=Orlando City SC Loan Seven Players to OCB|work=Orlando City Soccer Club}}

He made his first MLS start on October 23, 2017, away at Philadelphia Union on the final day of the season when regular starter Joe Bendik was ruled out with concussion. Orlando lost 6–1.

On July 14, 2018, following James O'Connor's appointment as manager, he was given the start over a healthy Bendik in the midst of a nine-game losing streak. Orlando won 2–1 with Edwards registering 3 saves.{{citation|title=Orlando City vs Toronto FC matchcenter|url=https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2018-07-14-orlando-city-sc-vs-toronto-fc/recap|website=MLSsoccer.com|access-date=July 15, 2018|date=July 14, 2018}} Edwards would retain the starting job for five games, conceding 13 goals. He was released by the club at the end of the 2018 season when his contract expired.{{cite web|url=https://www.prosoccerusa.com/mls/orlando-city-sc/orlando-city-2018-contract-options/|title=Orlando City declines options for eight players after tough 2018 season {{!}} Pro Soccer USA|website=www.prosoccerusa.com|language=en-US|access-date=2018-11-28|archive-date=November 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181128075148/https://www.prosoccerusa.com/mls/orlando-city-sc/orlando-city-2018-contract-options/|url-status=dead}}

= D.C. United =

On December 19, 2018, Edwards was acquired by D.C. United in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/12/19/dc-united-acquire-goalkeeper-earl-edwards-jr-trade-orlando-city |title=DC United acquire goalkeeper Earl Edwards, Jr. in trade from Orlando City |publisher=MLSsoccer.com |date=2018-07-14 |access-date=2019-04-21}} On January 8, 2020, Edwards was re-signed by D.C. United for the 2020 season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dcunited.com/post/2020/01/08/dc-united-re-sign-earl-edwards-jr|title=D.C. United Re-sign Earl Edwards Jr.|date=January 8, 2020|access-date=January 23, 2020}} He was released by D.C. United on November 30, 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dcunited.com/post/2020/11/30/dc-united-announce-end-season-roster-decisions|title=D.C. United Announce End-of-Season Roster Decisions | DC United}}

= Loudoun United =

Edwards has appeared in games for D.C. United's affiliate club, Loudoun United. He appeared the first time for Loudoun United in a game against the Tampa Bay Rowdies on March 31, 2019. He was able to keep a clean sheet in his debut as the game ended 0-0.

= New England Revolution =

On December 19, 2020, Edwards joined MLS side New England Revolution ahead of their 2021 season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.revolutionsoccer.net/post/2020/12/19/new-england-revolution-sign-goalkeeper-earl-edwards-jr|title = New England Revolution sign goalkeeper Earl Edwards Jr. | New England Revolution}}

= San Jose Earthquakes =

On December 30, 2024, Edwards was acquired by the San Jose Earthquakes in exchange for $150,000 in General Allocation Money.{{cite web |title=NEWS: Earthquakes Acquire Goalkeeper Earl Edwards Jr. In Trade with New England Revolution |url=https://www.sjearthquakes.com/news/news-earthquakes-acquire-goalkeeper-earl-edwards-jr-in-trade-with-new-england-revolution |website=SJEarthquakes.com |publisher=San Jose Earthquakes |access-date=30 December 2024}}