Former App State Quarterback signs with XFL
Former Appalachian State quarterback Armanti Edwards signed with the Dallas Renegades of the XFL earlier this week. Instead of playing a fifth season in the Canadian Football League, Edwards decided to sign with Dallas. Edwards’ CFL contract expired on February 20.
The former App State Mountaineer and Carolina Panther played one year with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the past three seasons with the Toronto Argonauts. Edwards caught 244 passes for 3,181 yards and 16 touchdowns in the CFL and helped the Argonauts defeat the Calgary Stampeders to win the Grey Cup, Canada’s version of the Super Bowl.
Armanti Edwards made a name for himself at The Rock in Boone, N.C. Edwards led the Mountaineers to two FCS National Championships in 2006 and 2007. Hey, did you know that App State defeated the Michigan Wolverines 34-32 in 2007 in one of the biggest college football upsets ever? Oh, you didn’t? Well, Edwards led the charge in that game too, going 17-23 for 227 yards with 3 touchdowns. He also added 62 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown.
Edwards received the Walter Payton Award, which is given to the best FCS player. The now 31-year-old was inducted into the Appalachian State Hall of Fame in 2015 and later into the Southern Conference Hall of Fame in 2016.
Edwards moved from quarterback to wide receiver when he was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the third round in 2010. Armanti saw limited action and didn’t catch a pass until 2012. He signed with the Chicago Bears the following season before being released. After that he made his way to the CFL and that’s when he started making a name for himself in professional football.
The Dallas Renegades released wide receiver Jarrod Heard to make room for Edwards. It is unclear if Edwards will be a quarterback, wide receiver, or both. The Renegades are currently second in the XFL West at 2-1. Dallas is home this weekend against the no. 1 team in the XFL West, the Houston Roughnecks.
