By Ralph D. Russo
Associated Press
NEW YORK ó Armanti Edwards can add All-American to a list of accomplishments that already includes two national championships and one of the greatest upsets in college football history.
The Appalachian State quarterback, along with fellow Walter Payton Award finalist Herb Donaldson of Western Illinois, headline the AP’s FCS All-America Team released Wednesday.
Edwards, a junior from Greenwood S.C., had his best passing season yet, throwing for 2,902 yards and 30 touchdowns despite missing a game with a hip injury and playing the final three games with a right knee injury that might need surgery.
“The thing people found out about Armanti is he’s very capable of throwing the ball,” Appalachian State coach Jerry Moore said in a telephone interview.
And Edwards can still run it. He had 941 yards on the ground.
Edwards had run for 2,741 yards in his first two seasons, leading the Mountaineers to two of their three straight national titles and a victory at Michigan to start the 2007 season.
“He’s not a really fiery, pep talk guy,” Moore said. “He’s more of leader in making the plays that he does.
“They see him take hits, they see his toughness. … They feed off that. And he’s done it since he was a freshman.”
Donaldson leads the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA) with 162 yards rushing per game.
Montana, which plays Richmond for the national championship in Chattanooga tonight, had two first-teamers: offensive lineman Colin Dow and safety Colt Anderson.
Joining Edwards and Donaldson in the All-America backfield is Liberty’s Rashad Jennings, who ran for 1,500 yards and scored 19 touchdowns.
The receivers are San Diego’s John Matthews and Ramses Barden of Cal Poly. Matthews led the nation with 102 catches for 1,478 yards. Barden had 1,257 yards and was the Great West offensive player of the year.