Despite a stellar college career that included 53 games played, 366 tackles, 37.5 tackles-for-loss, 8 sacks, 10 interceptions and 15 passes defended, former Badger T.J. Edwards did not hear his named called during the 2019 NFL Draft.
Edwards then had to sign with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent and grind his way onto the 53-man roster.
Well, he did that and more–stepping into a starting role late in the season and finishing his rookie campaign with a ProFootballFocus grade of 86.6, good for best on the team at the position.
Related: 94WIP: Former Badger T.J. Edwards ‘working for breakout season’
The Philadelphia Eagles are not a team that prioritizes linebackers in Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz’s “wide 9” defense.
They have found a diamond in the rough with Edwards, though, and there has been endless chatter in the city about Edwards’ upcoming starting role and his opportunity for a breakout season.
Yesterday this chatter continued when NBCSports’ Dave Zangaro spoke to the former Badger and learned where he stands entering his sophomore campaign. The title of the piece? “Eagles linebacker T.J. Edwards still driven by those who doubt him.”
“Edwards, 24, is ready to prove he can play against the pass too.
‘It’s something I’ve got my whole life, in terms of not being athletic or anything like that,’ Edwards said during training camp, on a day when he skyed to pick off a Nate Sudfeld pass. ‘But I kind of tried to prove those things wrong in college. I thought I did a decent job and now it’s kind of that whole progression over again where I gotta prove myself again, that I can cover in the pass.’
‘So I’m excited. I think this camp has helped me a lot just in terms of reading, different kind of patterns and those things like that, so I feel really good in the pass and the run. So, I’m excited to see kind of how things shake out.'”
Edwards continued to note how he’s still motivated by those who doubted his skills coming out of Wisconsin.
“‘I mean, I’d be lying to you if that’s something that I still don’t think about every once in a while in terms of not getting my name called,’ Edwards said. ‘It’s something that I think keeps me going. But at the end of the day, I’m very happy with how everything worked out and I wouldn’t change that for the world. So I think, you know, definitely helps my hunger and keeps that chip on my shoulder at all times.'”
Finally, the piece ends with a powerful note: “There are people who don’t think he can handle a bigger role. Edwards welcomes that viewpoint.”
The former Badger will start at linebacker for the Eagles this season alongside former Nebraska Cornhusker Nate Gerry. Those who cover and root for the team in Philadelphia did not have high expectations for him entering as an undrafted free agent.
Now? The hype is noticeable with the city getting behind him as one of the starters and Edwards himself acknowledging what this year will hold.
Things are all trending up for the former Badger linebacker, a sentence that seems to be said constantly with Badger products at the position.
Check in to BadgersWire throughout the season as we follow Edwards’ NFL campaign and keep you up to date on every Badger in the NFL.