Bryan Edwards ranked 27 in 107.5 The Game's Top 30 Gamecocks

In honor of the 30^th South Carolina football season in the SEC, 107.5 The Game will be ranking the top 30 players in program history. Former wide receiver Bryan Edwards was next to join the list, coming in at No. 27. 

Edwards, who played for the Gamecocks from 2016-19, listed ahead of Jaycee Horn, Mike Davis and Stephen Garcia. 

A four-star prospect, Edwards had a superb career at Conway High School before committing to South Carolina on Dec. 15, 2015. 

Edwards came into his true freshman season as the No. 3 wide receiver on the depth chart. He showcased what his future could be, hauling in eight catches for 101 yards against Vanderbilt in the season opener. He’d go on to record his first career touchdown on a 24-yard pass from Jake Bentley against Massachusetts. 

In 12 games, Edwards had 44 receptions for 590 yards and four touchdowns. He went on to earn Athlon’s Freshman All-America Second Team and All-SEC Freshman First Team honors. 

Former quarterback Perry Orth, who played at South Carolina 2013-16, said he was quickly impressed by Edwards when arrived on campus. 

“People don’t realize that when he was playing those first few games as a freshman, he was only 17,” Orth said. “He didn’t turn 18 till September or October of his freshman year and he enrolled early. He was a fresh, young 17-year-old kid working out with college players.”

As a sophomore in 2017, Edwards’s role increased after Deebo Samuel broke his right fibula. With the Gamecocks’ top target down, Edwards led the team with 64 catches for 793 yards and five touchdowns. 

In 2018, a fully recovered Samuel announced he’d be returning for his senior season, making him and Edwards a lethal 1-2 combo. However, Orth pointed out a potential issue for Edwards in this situation.  

“When you have two great receivers like that you can only get the ball to them so often,” Orth said.

Despite this dilemma, Edwards made the most of his opportunities. He had a breakout game in a week two matchup with Georgia, making seven catches for 111 yards and two touchdowns. By the end of the season, he established himself as a dominant receiver in the SEC, recording 55 receptions for 846 yards and seven touchdowns. 

2019 would be an important season for Edwards, as he was the No. 1 receiver on the depth chart and became a team captain.

Through 10 games, Edwards was having a great year on the field. He broke multiple school records including career receptions (previously held by Kenny McKinley) and career receiving yards (previously held by Alshon Jeffery). However, his season was shortened by a knee injury, which ended his college career.

Even in the face of adversity, it was still a fantastic season for Edwards. He hauled in 71 catches for 816 yards and six touchdowns. On top of that, he’d win multiple awards for his play, including the Steve Wadiak Most Valuable Player Award. 

For his career, he had 234 receptions, 3,045 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns. 

After graduating in December, Edwards was selected 81^st overall by the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2020 NFL Draft. In two seasons with the Raiders, he accumulated 45 catches for 764 yards and four touchdowns. 

On May 13, 2022, Las Vegas traded Edwards along with a 2023 seventh-round pick to the Atlanta Falcons for a 2023 fifth-round selection. 

Even after his college years, Edwards remains a fan-favorite amongst the program.

“The best part about Bryan, even still to this day, he’s just so humble about everything that he does,” Orth said. “He’s a team-first guy, he did whatever you asked him to do. He was a great guy to have in the locker room.”

Discuss South Carolina football on The Insiders Forum!