CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Appalachian State University quarterback Armanti Edwards cemented his standing as the most decorated player in NCAA Division I FCS history when he became the first two-time winner of the Walter Payton Award on Thursday evening at the Chattanooga Marriott. The Payton Award has been presented annually to the nation’s top FCS player since 1987.Edwards became the first two-time winner in the 23-year history of the award by out-distancing Southern Illinois running back Deji Karim and Elon wide receiver in voting by national media and sports information directors.
Edwards threw for a school-record 3,291 yards and ran for 679 more in 2009, good for an average of 330.8 yards of total offense per game, which ranked third nationally. He also ranked among the nation’s top 20 in rushing touchdowns (t-3rd - 18), completion percentage (4th - .680), passing yards (8th), scoring (10th - 108 pts.), passing efficiency (12th - 147.90 rating), completions (13th - 257) and touchdowns responsible for (16th - 30).
For his career, Edwards ranks second in FCS history behind only Steve McNair with 14,753 yards of total offense (McNair amassed 16,823 at Alcorn State from 1991-94). With 10,392 passing yards and 4,361 rushing yards, he is the only player in Division I history (FCS or FBS) with at least 9,000 passing yards and 4,000 rushing yards in a career and the only FCS player to reach the 8,000 passing/4,000 rushing plateau. He was responsible for 139 touchdowns in his career (74 passing, 65 rushing), highlighting his 64 ASU and 14 Southern Conference records.
ARMANTI EDWARDS’ SCHOOL RECORDS
Single-Game Rushing – 313 vs. Richmond, 2007*
Rushing Yards Per Attempts – 10.1 vs. Richmond, 2007
Rushing Yards by a Quarterback – 313 vs. Richmond, 2007*
Passing Yards – 433 vs. South Carolina State, 2008
Completion Percentage (min. 10 comp.) - .895 (17-19) vs. Wofford, 2008
Touchdown Passes – 5 vs. Wofford, 2008
Touchdowns Responsible For – 7 vs. Richmond, 2007
Single-Season
Rushing Yards by a Quarterback – 1,588, 2007
Rushing Yards by a Freshman – 1,153, 2006
Rushing Yards by a Sophomore – 1,588, 2007
Passing Yards – 3,291, 2009
Pass Attempts – 378, 2009
Pass Completions – 257, 2009
Completion Percentage (min. 100 comp.) - .680 (257-378), 2009
Passing Efficiency – 170.2, 2008
Touchdown Passes – 30, 2008
200-Yard Passing Games – 10, 2009
Consecutive 200-Yard Passing Games – 5, 2009
Passing Yards by a Freshman – 2,251, 2006
Passing Yards by a Sophomore – 1,948, 2007
Passing Yards by a Senior – 3,291, 2009
Total Offense – 3,970, 2009*
Touchdowns Responsible For – 41, 2008*
250-Yard Total Offense Games – 10, 2008*
Consecutive 250-Yard Total Offense Games – 5 (four times)
300-Yard Total Offense Games – 8, 2009*
400-Yard Total Offense Games – 4, 2009
Wins By a Starting Quarterback – 13, 2006
Postseason
Single-Game Rushing Yards – 313 vs. Richmond, 2007
Single-Game Rushing Touchdowns – 4 vs. Richmond, 2007
Single-Game Pass Attempts – 54 vs. Montana, 2009
Career Pass Attempts – 342
Single-Game Completions – 29 vs. South Carolina State, 2008
Career Completions – 216
Single-Game Passing Yards – 433 vs. South Carolina State, 2008
Career Passing Yards – 2,885
Single-Game Touchdown Passes – 4 vs. South Carolina State, 2008
Career Touchdown Passes – 19
Single-Game Total Offense Attempts – 69 vs. Montana, 2009
Career Total Offense Attempts – 564
Single-Game Total Offense Yards – 495 vs. Richmond, 2007
Career Total Offense Yards – 4,186
Single-Game Touchdowns Responsible For – 7 vs. Richmond, 2007
Career Touchdowns Responsible For – 37
Single-Game Touchdowns Scored – 4 vs. Richmond, 2007
Single-Game Points Scored – 24 vs. Richmond, 2007
Postseason Wins By a Starting Quarterback – 11
Career
Rushing Yards by a Quarterback – 4,361*
Passing Yards – 10,392*
Pass Attempts – 1,180
Pass Completions – 768
Completion Percentage (min. 250 comp.) - .651 (768-1,180)*
Passing Efficiency – 154.2
Touchdown Passes – 74
Passing Yards per Game – 203.8
200-Yard Passing Games – 24
Total Offense Attempts – 1,935*
Total Offense – 14,753*
Total Offense Per Game – 289.3
Touchdowns Responsible For – 139*
250-Yard Total Offense Games – 35*
300-Yard Total Offense Games – 24*
400-Yard Total Offense Games – 8
Wins By a Starting Quarterback – 42
* Denotes Southern Conference Records
2009 Walter Payton Award Voting
NAME
Armanti Edwards Appalachian State 431
Terrell Hudgins Elon 268
Deji Karim Southern Illinois 259
Matt Nichols Eastern Washington 178
Dominic Randolph Holy Cross 174
Ryan Perrilloux Jacksonville State 142
Jeremy Moses Stephen F. Austin 109
William Ford South Carolina State 39
Michael Herrick Northern Arizona 31
Cameron Higgins Weber State 30
Toddrick Penland McNeese State 29
Curtis Pulley Florida A&M 26
Chase Reynolds Montana 24
Bryant Lee Southern 20
Pat Grace Northern Iowa 18
David Sinisi Monmouth 17
Pat Devlin Delaware 16
Andre Roberts The Citadel 13
Trevyn Smith Weber State 12
James Mallory Central Connecticut St. 10
*Matt Szczur Villanova 9
*Eric Ward Richmond 6
*Scott Riddle Elon 3
*Tim Toone Weber State 1
