Edwards was placed on the injured reserve list in December 2005 after an injury to his ACL
Braylon switched to jersey #1 after wearing #80 during his first two
seasons with the team, but opposing cornerbacks were on constant alert anytime Edwards was on the
field. A
versatile athlete, Braylon also ran track during the indoor and outdoor season,
competing in the
high jump as well as the 60m and 200-meter dashes.
In 44 games with Michigan, Braylon started 36 times. He shattered all of the
school’s career
receiving records. Edwards caught 252 passes for 3542 yards (14.1 avg) and 39
touchdowns,
surpassing the previous marks of 176 receptions by Marquise Walker (1998-2001)
and 3076
yards with 37 scores by Anthony Carter (1979-82). His 39 touchdown grabs also
set a Big Ten
all-time record, while his 252 catches rank fourth and 3542 yards rank third in
conference annals.
Braylon was a Prep Star All-American selection during his only season at
Bishop Gallagher High
School. He previously played two seasons at Detroit’s Martin Luther King High.
As a senior, he
set school, league and state records for most positions started in one year —
wide receiver,
running back, free safety, cornerback, linebacker, defensive end, quarterback,
tight end, kick
returner, punt returner and long snapper. He was also named to the
All-Conference, All-East, All-
Metro and All-State teams during his final prep year.
In three seasons on the high school gridiron, Edwards tallied 63 receptions
for 740 yards and
eight touchdowns, rushed four times for 152 yards and two scores and completed
10-of-17
passes for 200 yards on offense. He recorded 170 tackles, seven sacks and 10
stops for losses,
caused three fumbles, recovered three fumbles, intercepted five passes and
returned one pick for
a touchdown on defense.
Thrust into action as a true freshman, Edwards caught three passes for 38
yards in six games for
the Wolverines in 2001. He started twelve games at split end as a sophomore,
hauling in 67
passes for 1035 yards (15.4 avg) and ten touchdowns. Prior to 2002, only David
Terrell (71 in
1999), Jack Clancy (76 in 1966) and Marquise Walker (86 in 2001) had more
receptions in a
season for the Wolverines.
Edwards picked up first-team All-Big Ten Conference honors in 2003, as he
caught 85 passes for
1138 yards (13.4 avg) and fourteen touchdowns. Only Marquise Walker (86 catches
for 1143
yards) had a more productive season in school annals at the time. He also joined
David Terrell
(1038 in 1999 and 1130 in 2000) as the only players in school history to gain
over 1000 yards
receiving in a season twice in a career.
While his 2003 season would have been hard to match by most anyone, Braylon
exceeded all
those totals as a senior. A consensus All-American first-team pick, he was also
named the Big
Ten’s Offensive Player of the Year and was the recipient of the Biletnikoff
Award, given to the
nation’s top receiver. Edwards broke Walker’s school season-records, as he
snared 97 passes
for 1330 yards and became the only player in Big Ten Conference annals and only
the ninth in
NCAA Division 1-A history to gain over 1000 yards receiving in a season three
times in a career.
Only Desmond Howard (19 in 1991) had more touchdown catches in a season for the
Wolverines
than Braylon’s 15.
|