Sammy Edwards has long been a winner. As an 11-year-old, Edwards, Valdosta State's record setting quarterback, teamed with a partner to win the Junior National Paddleball Championship. Now Sammy is looking to win another championship by guiding the Blazers to their fifth national title. 

Edwards led the Blazers to a 12-2 record, a GSC title and a berth in the national quarterfinals last year as a first-time starter. His prolific statistics garnered national attention and made him a finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy, the Division II equivalent of the Heisman Trophy. Sammy has started his senior season where he left off last year leading Blazers to a 4-0 record while passing for 1,000 yards, 11 touchdowns and completing over 69% of his passes.

Edwards, who hails from St. Augustine, Florida, played multiple sports growing up. In addition to youth league football, Sammy played soccer, baseball, lacrosse as well as the aforementioned paddleball. At St. Augustine High School, he concentrated on football and lacrosse, adding basketball his senior year. Sammy says his favorite memory of this time was catching the game winning touchdown pass with just seconds left in a middle school playoff game before being the talk of a friend's birthday sleepover that night.

The culture and core values of the Valdosta State football program brought him to VSU along with the outstanding history of Blazer quarterback success. Former VSU signal callers have won three Harlon Hill Trophies and finished second in the voting twice. "I did my research and there is such a deep history of quarterbacks here", says Edwards."During the season it is not something I think about that much, but you do see the names on the record boards in the football building. After last year's success seeing my name up there is a cool thing and a testament to the work I have put in. I love being in the conversation with those guys", he adds.

Sammy's favorite activities outside of football include snowboarding and wake surfing. According to Edwards it's the people that make Valdosta and VSU special. Sammy's mom is from Puerto Rico, moving to Brooklyn as a young girl. "I have family in both Brooklyn and Puerto Rico, and I have not been to either of those places so traveling there and meeting those family members is definitely something I want to do", says Edwards.

Sammy will graduate this December with a Health Sciences degree and wants to work in the strength and conditioning area with athletes that play "rotational" sports like baseball, football (specifically quarterbacks) and golf.

Sammy feels that preparation is the key to successful quarterback play. "Some quarterbacks can just go out there and sling it around and be successful but that's not really me. The more I can learn about the opponent, their defense and our scheme the better I will be", says Edwards. "I like the way Jared Goff (Detroit Lion QB) and Matthew Stafford (LA Rams) play the position. Neither are particularly flashy, but they always have their team in position to win and at the end of the game when you look at the scoreboard, they usually have put up 30 or more points."

Sammy feels like he brought some leadership qualities with him from high school but acknowledges that his leadership skills have evolved over time. "It has been a journey" Sammy says. "I have learned that you really need to know who you are trying to lead and have a relationship with them", he adds. The opportunity to build special relationships and then compete with your closest friends is what makes athletics special for Sammy. 

In this age of the transfer portal Edwards says that staying a Blazer was something he prayed about. "I realize that it is becoming rare for an athlete to not transfer for what might be perceived as a better opportunity after the year I had last year. I prayed and I feel like God led me to VSU and this is where I need to be" says Edwards. "We still have unfinished business. We lost the national championship game my freshman year, made a good run last year and I want another shot to win it all this year" says Sammy.

Edwards says this year's Blazer team has the potential to be special. "Everyone in the locker room knows we are talented, but we also know that it takes more than talent to win at a high level. This group has the right makeup with everyone working toward the same goal. We know that we can be a special team." 

From winning that paddleball national title as an 11-year-old to looking to lead this Blazer team to a national championship, Sammy Edwards and athletic success have been synonymous.