Ask almost any coach familiar with French Camp Academy and they will tell you that you never know what you are going to get.
But one thing is certain for next year, they will get plenty of Holman Edwards.
The rising senior is the latest selection for The Star-Herald Top 10 Players to Watch for the upcoming football season.
This is the fourth of 10 installments of the Star-Herald 2018 Top 10 Players to Watch. The players were nominated by head football coaches at Kosciusko, Ethel, McAdams, French Camp and Central Holmes. The players were chosen by the Star-Herald sports staff and will be revealed one week at a time. Previously selected were Antonio Harmon of Kosciusko, Percy Lewis of McAdams and Akeem Erving of Ethel.
Holman helped lead the Panthers to the playoffs last year and an 8-4 record. He was 95-of-169 passing for 1,642 yards with 17 touchdowns and just five interceptions. He also ran for 230 yards on 98 carries with five TDs. His best game of the season was in a 42-0 win over Hamilton where he was 6-of-8 passing for 225 yards and four touchdowns. He also threw for 244 yards and two TDs in a 56-44 win over Leake County.
“He has got the arm to throw for a lot of yards but you have to have somebody to throw it to,” Wright said. “We will see what happens. We like to be balanced on both sides of the football. He definitely can throw it. We would like to have more speed in the wide receiver position. There’s a lot that makes a football team, but I feel good about our quarterback.”
While Wright likes Edwards’ physical attributes, it is not the first thing that comes to mind when he thinks about his senior quarterback.
“I would tell him that he is dependable, trustworthy and honest,” Wright said “He is a good decision maker and he is going to work hard. He is a smart kid and I like that about him. He has a great arm and does a lot of the little things right. He is a very respectful guy and that’s why he is playing quarterback. He’s not the type of guy where you have to worry if he is going to do the right thing or not. He is going to try and do the right thing.”
While the majority of the offense will revolve around Edwards, the 6-foot-1, 180-pound senior will also have to see more time on the defensive side of the football. Last year, Edwards had 10 tackles and one interception.
“He will hit you on defense as well,” Wright said. “He likes the contact. He wants to play defensive end but I suspect he will play something different. I pick at him about playing defensive end because that’s what he wants to do. Of course, my quarterback a few years ago played middle linebacker. But he will probably end up being a cornerback or safety because he can run.”
Edwards also plays on the basketball and baseball teams.
“He’s a good, athletic kid,” Wright said. “He has good speed. He may play basketball this season and will be able to help them there. He’s a pretty good baseball player as well. His father played a lot of baseball. He runs well and can throw it a country mile. At a small school like this, you have to have your athletes playing as many sports as they can.”
Edwards said he would like to play football at the next level and just hopes he can get noticed this season.
“I think he can play on the next level if that’s what he desires,” Wright said. “He will have the arm strength to play on the next level. and will continue to work. I think he could if he desires. He really likes baseball and is solid in both of them.
He’s just a really athletic kid.”
Edwards said playing at French Camp has taught him many life lessons.
“It has a been a good experience in life lessons,” Edwards said. “Having to go through those hard times and having to play more than one position help you mature. Playing a bunch of positions, you have to work hard in the summer to prepare yourself for all of that. That’s what life is like. You have to be prepared.”
Besides sports, Edwards said he likes to hunt — mainly turkeys and deer — and killed his first turkey this spring. After he is done with his football career, Edwards said he would like to be a coach and teacher or “something that has to do with athletics.”
