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Armanti Edwards Headed to Windy City

Appalachian State alumnus Armanti Edwards, who finished his 2013 campaign with the Cleveland Browns, has signed a free-agent contract with the Chicago Bears. Courtesy: Cleveland Browns
Appalachian State alumnus Armanti Edwards, who finished his 2013 campaign with the Cleveland Browns, has signed a free-agent contract with the Chicago Bears. Courtesy: Cleveland Browns

June 4, 2014. Former Appalachian State University football star Armanti Edwards has signed a free-agent contract with the Chicago Bears, the National Football League team announced on Tuesday.

A four-year NFL veteran, Edwards has played wide receiver and been a return specialist for the Carolina Panthers (2010-13) and Cleveland Browns (2013). His 2013 campaign was cut short by an ankle injury sustained during his third game with the Browns. He was selected by the Panthers in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft after a record-breaking career as a quarterback at Appalachian State.

Edwards, who was a four-year starter from 2006-09 and led Appalachian to NCAA Division I FCS national championships in 2006 and ‘07, remains the only two-time winner of the Walter Payton Award (FCS Player of the Year) and ranks second in FCS history with 14,753 yards of total offense (behind only 2003 NFL MVP Steve McNair, who compiled 16,823 total yards as a quarterback at Alcorn State from 1991-94).

With Edwards’ return to the NFL, there are now 13 former Mountaineers currently on NFL rosters. Edwards joins RB Travaris Cadet (New Orleans Saints), OL Daniel Kilgore (San Francisco 49ers), LB Jeremy Kimbrough (Washington Redskins), DB Corey Lynch(Indianapolis Colts), P Sam Martin (Detroit Lions), DB Demetrius McCray (Jacksonville Jaguars), RB Steven Miller (Detroit Lions), WRAndrew Peacock (Detroit Lions), WR DeAndre Presley (Carolina Panthers), Brian Quick (St. Louis Rams) and LB D.J. Smith (Carolina Panthers) and WR Tony Washington (Indianapolis Colts) in the NFL ranks.

Eight-year NFL veteran Jason Hunter, who had 27 tackles and three sacks as a starting defensive end for the Oakland Raiders last season, is currently an unrestricted free agent.