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Former No. 13 Draft Pick Troy Edwards Signs With Rampage

December 5, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Grand Rapids Rampage News Release


GRAND RAPIDS - One of college football's all-time most explosive wide receivers and a seven-year NFL veteran will ply his trade in Grand Rapids this season. Troy Edwards (Shreveport, La.), the 13th overall selection in the 1999 NFL Draft following a record-breaking career at Louisiana Tech University, signed a two-year contract with the Grand Rapids Rampage of the Arena Football League.

After being drafted by Pittsburgh, Edwards spent seven seasons (1999-2005) in the NFL with the Steelers, the St. Louis Rams, the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Detroit Lions. Over that span, the 5-10, 195-pound receiver caught 203 passes for 2,404 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also returned 38 punts and 74 kickoffs for 1,903 yards. Edwards took part in training camp with the Jaguars this fall before signing with the Rampage.

"The NFL was good to me, and now I can't wait to play Arena Football," said Edwards. "I don't want special treatment. I just want to be a regular player who can help bring the Rampage to the playoffs."

Prior to his years in the NFL, Edwards put up gaudy numbers in three seasons (1996-98) at Louisiana Tech. As a junior in 1997, he led the NCAA with 1,707 receiving yards. Edwards' 1998 campaign was even more impressive. The senior caught 140 passes for 1,996 yards, which both rank second all-time in single-season NCAA Division I-A history. His 27 receiving touchdowns that year are still the most in Division I-A history, and his 2,784 all-purpose yards rank fourth all-time. For his efforts, Edwards earned the 1998 Fred Biletnikoff Award as the NCAA's top receiver.

For his collegiate career, Edwards is eighth in NCAA Division I-A history with 280 receptions, fifth with 4,352 receiving yards, second with 128.0 receiving yards per game and first with 50 receiving touchdowns. He will make his first foray into the AFL with the Rampage in 2007.

"This is the same game," said Edwards about adapting his game to the AFL. "You still have to throw the ball and catch it. Even though the field is half as long, the fundamentals of the game are the same."

Edwards visited with the team last week before returning to his home in Florida. He will return to Grand Rapids for mini-camp, which is scheduled for the end of February. The Rampage kick off their 10th Anniversary Season on March 4 against the Colorado Crush in Denver before returning to Van Andel Arena for their home opener against the Las Vegas Gladiators on March 8.

"Grand Rapids is really the ideal situation for me," added Edwards, who will be the first-ever Rampage player selected in the first round of an NFL draft. "I really like the city, which is perfect for a laid-back guy like me because it is not too big and not too small. I also really like the coaching staff and the organization in general. [Rampage Head Coach] Sparky [McEwen] has been a player in the league, and he knows what it's like and the pressures that we go through."

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The Grand Rapids Rampage are preparing to celebrate their 10th season in the Arena Football League. The Rampage, ArenaBowl XV champions, compete in the league's American Conference. The team is led by third-year head coach Sparky McEwen.

The Arena Football League, entering its 21st season, was dubbed the fifth major-league sport by ESPN the Magazine in 2004. The league consists of 19 teams split into two conferences and four divisions.

For the latest team news, visit RampageFootball.com.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from December 5, 2006


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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