VALDOSTA, Ga. – Following his strong starting debut on Saturday, Valdosta State junior quarterback Sammy Edwards was named Gulf South Conference Offensive Player of the Week, the league office announced Monday.
 
This is the first week honor of Edwards' career and the first of the season for the Blazers following a 63-10 victory over Point University on Saturday in the 2023 season-opener.  Edwards finished the game accounting for five touchdowns, throwing for four and running for one.  He led the team on the ground with eight carries for 73 yards and a score, while he was 21 of 31 passing for 347 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions. 
 
Edwards and the Blazer quarterback staff threw for 459 yards, six touchdown receptions and completed passes to 11 different receivers in the contest.  All three quarterbacks threw at least one touchdown pass.  It marked each of their first touchdown passes as Blazers.
 
Before Saturday, Edwards was 7 of 11 passing for 121 yards for his career at VSU and had ten carries for 47 yards in 24 games.   The staff went 25 of 36 passing for 459 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions for the game Saturday.  The 459 yards passing by VSU marked the most in the career of head coach Tremaine Jackson, while the six passing touchdowns tied the most in his career set last season when former Blazer Ivory Durham tossed six touchdowns at Miles College (Sept. 17, 2022). 
 
VSU makes its first road trip of the season this week as it travels to Albany State for a 6 p.m. kick on Saturday in Albany, Ga.  Check back with vstateblazers.com for links to live stats, audio/video streaming, ticket information and more later in the week.