Enterprise native gets into game for Troy

TROY — Most spring scrimmages see walk-ons or little-used players rack up stats while starters are held out.

Fernandus Edwards was one of them.

Very few of those spring stars make a difference in a real game, but Fernandus Edwards was one of them, too.

The junior running back from Enterprise finally got a chance to make an impact in last week’s 65-0 win over Alcorn State. He finished with 78 rush yards and 19 receiving yards, highlighted by a 35-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.

“That was one of the good things about Saturday night,” offensive coordinator Neal Brown said. “We played some people that work hard, but don’t play much.
People who worked really hard in spring practice got to reap the rewards.”

Edwards was one of those, but he started to put himself in a position for real playing time as Troy’s running back position got thin.

Xavier Moreland got hurt, Chris Anderson is still being held out while the NCAA takes its time reviewing his transcripts and Maurice Greer has been off and on during practice.

He came to Troy after two years at Concordia College in Selma, where he ran for more than 1,000 yards as a true freshman. He didn’t play football his sophomore year — he didn’t say why, but said he wasn’t in trouble — and transferred to Troy in the spring of 2007.

“The reason I had left was because they didn’t have my major (criminal justice),” Edwards said. “I knew going in I wouldn’t finish there, but I didn’t want to do the walk-on process and since they were just starting the football program, I could get a chance to play right away.”

And when he got to Troy, he found out people were talking about football. People even knew who he was.

“You appreciate everything out here a lot more because people out here talk about Troy and football and everything,” Edwards said.

Look on his right arm and you’ll find a tattoo that reads “Pookie,” a family nickname. Edwards chose criminal justice as a major because he wants to work in law enforcement as a federal agent. His sister has been a state trooper in Macon County for about a year.

“It’s the only thing that really interests me outside of school and football,” Edwards said. “I like law enforcement, so I’m hoping to make a difference.”

Edwards made a difference Saturday night after being patient. He’s still a walk-on, though he has just one more season left after this year. Still, he impressed coaches to where they took him to Middle Tennessee and let him show off for more than 22,000 fans.

“I was on the travel squad,” Edwards said. “I got in two plays. I blocked. I’m not complaining.

“I was hoping I would. I wasn’t sure if it would happen. Everybody was telling me that I was doing well, but I had to be patient.”

But the success didn’t last long — the hard part of being a walk-on. On Monday, Edwards wasn’t sure if he’d be on the travel squad for Ohio State, since Moreland is recovering and Greer has started to perform better.

“I hope I am. I really want to see their stadium,” Edwards said. “I’ve just got to keep working hard and hopefully this year or next, I’ll get my shot.”