The Armanti Edwards Update: Graduation Day

by Tater596 on Dec 15, 2009 12:29 PM EST

Hello Panther fans. It was a rough weekend for me personally. Before the Panthers lost on Sunday, on Saturday, I saw the tenure of the greatest player in Appalachian State history come to a close. Playing in sub-zero temps, hard winds, and heavy snow, the Mountaineers lost to Montana 24-17 when a last second pass from Armanti to Brian Quick was dropped in the end zone. Had the catch been made, pending the PAT, the game would have gone into Overtime. In fairness to Quick, the conditions were hardly ideal... but when greatness hits you right in the hands like that, you have to will yourself into making that catch.

Regardless of the harsh conditions, Armanti compiled 404 yards of total offense (353 passing, 54 rushing) and came just one drop shy of leading another brilliant comeback.

via cmsimg.citizen-times.com

But now, Armanti is officially on the market... having graduated from App State in just 3.5 years of study...

via www.appfan.com

Armanti graduated with honors by making the Dean's list, and joined just 2.8% of the student body in graduating in

under 4 years. Here are some of his final collegiate football statistics and achievments:

Overall Stats

			-Passing-									-Rushing-
Season	Team	G	Rat	Cmp	Att	Yds	Y/A	Lng	INT	TD	Sack	Att	Yds	Y/A	Lng	TD
2006	APP	15	140.7	167	274	2251	8.2	79	10	15	11	188	1153	6.1	44	15
2007	APP	11	159.3	148	222	1948	8.8	68	7	17	17	237	1588	6.7	80	21
2008	APP	13	170.2	196	306	2902	9.5	72	9	30	18	193	941	4.9	76	11
2009	APP	12	147.9	257	378	3291	8.7	74	7	12	13	137	679	5.0	40	18
Career:		51	154.2	768	1180	10392	8.8	79	33	74	59	755	4361	5.8	80	65

His 14,753 yards of total offense are 2nd only to the late Steve McNair in FCS history.
Currently holds the single game record for yards rushing by a Quarterback, set against Richmond in 2007, with 313 yards rushing.
He is the only player, at any level of college football, to pass for over 10,000 yards and rush for 4,000 in a career.
He holds more than 20 school records, most of which will never be touched, and he leaves ASU with a 42-7 record as a starter (11-2 in the playoffs), four Southern Conference titles and a pair of national championships.
He won the Walter Payton award in 2008 and 2009
Voted Souther Conference Offensive player of the year by both Coaches and Media, 2008, 2009
Led the first ever defeat of a top 5 AP poll FBS team (Michigan) by an FCS opponent, leading to the creation of the "Appalachian State Rule" in which FCS teams are now eligible for top 25 voting.

Only time will tell if we see him in a Panther uniform (please, please, please), but personally Armanti, thanks for making the last 4 years of college football some of the most exciting I will ever watch.

via www.appfan.com

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Comments

So is he an NFL QB?

Can he really pass the ball? I see the stats but….do his skills translate to the NFL? Will he get drafted? I’m not trying to insult your boy at all, I haven’t followed ASU.

I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com

by Jaxon on Dec 15, 2009 12:56 PM EST reply actions

As far as I can see

The only thing holding him back from being an NFL QB is prototypical size.

I think he will get drafted. 6th or 7th round. Someone is going to be intrigued enough to make sure they lock him down before UDFA signing. He has proven this year, above all other years, that he can make the throws. He can fit a football into tight spaces (even on the run) and has the ability to recognize a variety of coverage schemes. He is a born leader and a true competitor.

Check out some of my other Armanti postings for some videos. The one before this highlights what any scout would tell you is an “NFL caliber throw”

by Tater596 on Dec 15, 2009 1:47 PM EST up reply actions

I'd would love to see it work for him...he would be exciting to watch

I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com

by Jaxon on Dec 15, 2009 1:55 PM EST up reply actions

He doesn't run a pro offense...

That means he’s not making the kind of throws or reads he will need to in the League. Further, he’s tiny, which will hurt for both seeing passing lanes and his durability.

Overheard in press box, from local reporter: 'If this Moore kid was any good, they'd be up 31-0 right now.'
--Darin Gantt, on CAR@NE

by MichaelProcton on Dec 15, 2009 4:25 PM EST up reply actions

I've tried Tater... I really have...

but I still don’t see it.

His college stats were breathtaking and he seems like a great guy. However, this draft is so stacked at the position I have him on my board as the 15th ranked QB.

I think it’s highly unlikely he’ll be drafted, somewhat due to his size…. but mostly because this is a terrible draft to be in for a QB

Cat Scratch Reader's resident optimist.

by James Dator on Dec 15, 2009 1:48 PM EST reply actions

Don't mean to double post... but here's some more food for thought.

Jerry Moore runs a spread offense at App. This really, really, really hurts Edwards’ chances also.

Not only is he small, but with questions about the level of competition and the spread I think it’s a slim chance he’ll be drafted.

Look a Graham Harrell, in his senior season his numbers were:
5,111 yards, 71% completion, 45 TD, 9 INT, 160.04 rating

He’s in Canada now because of the spread, it’s NFL QB suicide.

Cat Scratch Reader's resident optimist.

by James Dator on Dec 15, 2009 1:57 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

But there are also some spread QBs in the NFL currently

And those that are listed much higher on yours and probably everyone elses draft board. Do we ever really know if any of these guys will pan out?

I think he will be drafted. It may not be as a QB. But I think he will be drafted. Just call it a hunch. Beyond all the stats I can throw out there, are intangibles that make this guy someone that any coach or scout will have in their minds on draft day. There are times that when he plays you can tell he just “wants it more” and will raise his game and the game of those around him. He is a born leader, competitor, and athlete.

There are plenty of things I can’t communicate here, because he’s just one of those guys you have to see to believe. The videos, pictures, articles, and stats cannot do him justice.

Draft the kid.

by Tater596 on Dec 15, 2009 2:10 PM EST up reply actions

Additionally,

Harrell can’t do it with his feet. Two completely different types of players!

by dudemanhey on Jan 4, 2010 12:19 PM EST up reply actions

Great bio, Tater!

I watched that Montana game with admiration and awe for all this young man can do. In sub-freezing temperature the whole game, snow and winds over 25 MPH, and a hostile, noisy crowd, he consistently delivered accurate, laser-like passes — at least 5 were on the money and dropped. Granted the conditions contributed to those drops, but I don’t know many QB’s in the pros who could’ve been so effective, play after play.

I don’t care if he’s short. I’d be thrilled to see him as a Panther. He’s a winner. Did you mention he’s on the Dean’s list, and sees the field with the spatial awareness of a major in imaging technology and graphic arts.

by bigdavis on Dec 15, 2009 2:19 PM EST reply actions

yep.

First thing I said about him was his impressive academics. Dean’s list student and graduating in under 4 years.

What a great game… I mean that Montana game was just raw football. There was something pure about it. I wish Brian Quick could have pulled in that pass to send it into Overtime… I did not want it to end.

by Tater596 on Dec 15, 2009 2:22 PM EST up reply actions

I hope some team gives him a chance. I think that is all he needs. He has the rest!!
Good luck to him!

by tarheelfan on Dec 15, 2009 2:42 PM EST reply actions

BTW, great post Tater596

Regardless of what I think will happen with Edwards this was really a fantastic post.

Than you for it.

Cat Scratch Reader's resident optimist.

by James Dator on Dec 15, 2009 3:02 PM EST reply actions

edwards pro style offense

I think it depends on how well he learns to read defensives and how quickly he reacts. Brian Brohm was not in a spread offense, and was amazing in college, but GB said he couldn’t adjust to the speed of the game. He is now on someone’s practice squad. He has to do those two things well and learn how to avoid taking sacks. How does his size compare to Drew Brees. Brees is short compared to other QBs, but he’s great. Edwards won’t be a Drew Brees, but he will be able to compete. I think his mobility and play making will also help him get drafted. Graham Harrell couldn’t run like Edwards. Josh Johnson could run like that and threw 43 TDs to 1 INT as a senior. We saw how he did in the pros this year, though (a QB rating around 58, I think). So I think Edwards gets drafted, and he’ll stick with some team. The way training camp works, though, he only gets a real shot to start if the starter goes all Derek Anderson on him, or gets hurt.

By the way, how short is he? Brees and Colt Brennan are about 6’0 or 6’1. Brennan, though, I think weighed around 180 or so, and he also played in a spread offense in college. No way he could beat out Jason Campbell.

by usana_gaines on Dec 16, 2009 10:44 AM EST reply actions

Armanti is...

6’0" in his uniform, and 185lbs. So definitely a smaller QB.

I agree with all your statements… I think if a college QB can make the transition to the speed of the pro game, then the rest will fall into place. I just hope someone gives him a chance. He surely deserves it.

by Tater596 on Dec 16, 2009 12:03 PM EST up reply actions

Brohm's actually on the Bills' active roster.

But the offense he played in was hardly pro-style, either.

As for Brennan, there were those who thought he could compete at Campbell’s level as early as some time this season, but he got hurt in the preseason.

Overheard in press box, from local reporter: 'If this Moore kid was any good, they'd be up 31-0 right now.'
--Darin Gantt, on CAR@NE

by MichaelProcton on Dec 17, 2009 2:38 PM EST up reply actions

As of last night

Armanti is the first player to ever win back to back Walter Payton awards.

Congratulations Armanti!

by Tater596 on Dec 18, 2009 8:54 AM EST reply actions

The spread offense definitely hurts his chances

I would love him as a Panther though. Pair him with a creative OC, and we have a Wildcat specialist that can throw and run. Maybe he could turn into a decent starter down the road. The thing that will help him most is his spectacular work ethic, he can LEARN an NFL offense with that, and his heart will make him great.

The early bird catches the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.

by Flowing Willow on Dec 20, 2009 1:16 PM EST reply actions