Sam Edwards Selected to NCAA Division I Football Student-Athlete Connection Group
2/19/2025 1:42:00 PM | Football
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State sixth-year graduate senior linebacker Sam Edwards has been selected as the Big Ten representative to the NCAA Division I Football Oversight Committee Student-Athlete Connection Group.
A current member of the Michigan State Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), Edwards will now represent MSU on a national level.
The Student-Athlete Connection Group (SACG) features current players representing every conference and independents in the FBS and FCS. Formed in 2019, the goal of the group is to provide an opportunity for football student-athletes to share their perspective on key initiatives, policies and legislation. The engagement group will be asked to provide broad-based feedback on issues the football oversight committees are reviewing. Previous discussions include the transfer portal, NIL, playing and practice seasons, and other items.
Student-athletes selected to the committee can serve up to two years and meet quarterly to discuss issues and provide feedback to the Oversight Committee.
Edwards, who just completed his fifth season on the Michigan State football team, has emerged as one of the team's leaders – both on and off the field.

The Williamston, Michigan, native and Lansing Catholic product has excelled in the classroom, earning Academic All-District honors for the second consecutive season in 2024, and was on the final ballot for the Academic All-America Team. He graduated with a double major in political theory and constitutional democracy / international relations in May 2024, finished his minor in political economy in December 2024, and started a master's program in marketing research in the 2025 spring semester. He also garnered Academic All-Big Ten honors for the fourth year in a row.
On the field, Edwards plays on multiple special teams units. He played a total of 129 plays on special teams in 2024, fourth most on the team, including serving as the team's long snapper on field goals and PATs in the last month of the season. Edwards was named a game captain for the season opener on Aug. 30 vs. Florida Atlantic.
Edwards has also helped with numerous community events throughout his time in East Lansing, including: student-athlete food drive; Beautiful Lives Project; Jack Breslin/McLaren Golf Classic volunteer; March is Reading Month; Be the Match – Bone Marrow Registry; peer tutoring service; visits to the Sparrow Hospital pediatric ward; and Teams for Toys.
A four-year letterwinner who has played in 29 career games at MSU, Edwards will return for his sixth and final season with the Spartans in 2025.
A current member of the Michigan State Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), Edwards will now represent MSU on a national level.
The Student-Athlete Connection Group (SACG) features current players representing every conference and independents in the FBS and FCS. Formed in 2019, the goal of the group is to provide an opportunity for football student-athletes to share their perspective on key initiatives, policies and legislation. The engagement group will be asked to provide broad-based feedback on issues the football oversight committees are reviewing. Previous discussions include the transfer portal, NIL, playing and practice seasons, and other items.
Student-athletes selected to the committee can serve up to two years and meet quarterly to discuss issues and provide feedback to the Oversight Committee.
Edwards, who just completed his fifth season on the Michigan State football team, has emerged as one of the team's leaders – both on and off the field.

The Williamston, Michigan, native and Lansing Catholic product has excelled in the classroom, earning Academic All-District honors for the second consecutive season in 2024, and was on the final ballot for the Academic All-America Team. He graduated with a double major in political theory and constitutional democracy / international relations in May 2024, finished his minor in political economy in December 2024, and started a master's program in marketing research in the 2025 spring semester. He also garnered Academic All-Big Ten honors for the fourth year in a row.
On the field, Edwards plays on multiple special teams units. He played a total of 129 plays on special teams in 2024, fourth most on the team, including serving as the team's long snapper on field goals and PATs in the last month of the season. Edwards was named a game captain for the season opener on Aug. 30 vs. Florida Atlantic.
Edwards has also helped with numerous community events throughout his time in East Lansing, including: student-athlete food drive; Beautiful Lives Project; Jack Breslin/McLaren Golf Classic volunteer; March is Reading Month; Be the Match – Bone Marrow Registry; peer tutoring service; visits to the Sparrow Hospital pediatric ward; and Teams for Toys.
A four-year letterwinner who has played in 29 career games at MSU, Edwards will return for his sixth and final season with the Spartans in 2025.
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