2020 Football Roster
Roster
Edwards, Sam
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Jersey Number 35
Sam Edwards
- Position:
- LB
- Height:
- 6-0
- Weight:
- 215
- Class:
- Freshman
- Hometown:
- Williamston, Mich.
- High School:
- Lansing Catholic
Bio
Sixth-year graduate senior and three-year letterwinner has played in 29 career games for the Spartans . . . voted a captain by his teammates . . . contributes on multiple special teams units and was the starting long snapper on field goals and PATs in 2023 and the last four games in 2024 . . . also plays linebacker . . . four-time Academic All-Big Ten and four-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar honoree . . . two-time Academic All-District selection . . . named to National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society in 2025 . . . three-time recipient of the team’s Scholar-Athlete Award . . . 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 . . . was selected in February 2025 as the Big Ten representative to the NCAA Division I Football Oversight Committee Student-Athlete Connection Group . . . 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.
2024 SEASON (REDSHIRT SENIOR): Played in all 12 games . . . played 129 overall snaps on multiple special teams units and also served as the team’s long snapper on field goals and PATs in the last four games of the season . . . Academic All-Big Ten and Academic All-District honoree . . . named a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar for the fourth consecutive year . . . was a finalist on the Academic All-America ballot . . . for the third straight year, earned the team’s Scholar-Athlete Award at the 2025 Spartan Academic Excellence Gala, which is presented to the individual from each program who maintains the highest cumulative grade point average on their team . . . snapped in six games overall (PVAMU, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Purdue, Rutgers) . . . recorded four tackles (one solo, three assists) . . . also had one kick return for 17 yards . . . played 16 snaps at linebacker . . . snapped on two PATs in windy and snowy conditions against Rutgers in Spartan Stadium in regular-season finale . . . successfully snapped on two PATs and one field goal in cold, rainy, wet conditions in Purdue game, adding one fair catch on a kickoff . . . snapped on one field goal and two PAT attempts in game at Illinois, and also tallied two tackles, both on punt returns, and made three fair catches on kickoffs . . . successfully snapped on one field goal and one PAT in Indiana game, also making a fair catch on three kickoff returns, part of playing 16 special teams snaps . . . saw multiple special teams action in Michigan game, including getting called upon for long-snapper, successfully snapping on one field goal and one PAT . . . saw special teams action in Iowa game . . . was in on special teams action at Oregon, logging 12 snaps . . . tallied two tackles on defense, doubling career total, in notching 12 defensive snaps in Ohio State game, along with 20 special teams snaps . . . was in on special teams action in Boston College game, including making a fair catch on a kickoff return . . . saw special teams action in Prairie View A&M game, including time at long snapper in a back-up role with three snaps on PATs, and was named the Spartan Special Teams Player of the Week . . . was in on eight special teams plays in game at Maryland . . . saw special teams action vs. FAU, getting in on a tackle on a punt return that was wiped out by a blocking penalty on FAU . . . was honorary game captain for season opener vs. Florida Atlantic.
2023 SEASON (REDSHIRT JUNIOR): Played in all 12 games . . . was the team’s starting long snapper on field goals and PATs the final eight games of the season . . . saw action on multiple special teams units and made 137 appearances on special teams, fifth most on the team . . . also played 16 snaps at linebacker . . . recorded tackles against Michigan and Penn State . . . Academic All-District, Academic All-Big Ten and Big Ten Distinguished Scholar honoree . . . recipient of the team’s Scholar-Athlete Award at the annual SASS Academic Gala . . . handled long-snapping duties for placekicking, successfully snapping on 23 special teams plays with 14 field goal attempts and nine PATs . . . successfully snapped on three PATs and one field goal in game at Indiana . . . snapped on two field goal attempts at Ohio State . . . fired off snaps on three field goal attempts and two PATs in Nebraska game . . . got off three successful snaps on three field goal attempts in cold conditions at Minnesota, in addition to being on special teams . . . successfully snapped on three PATs and one field goal in cold and rainy conditions at Rutgers, and was also on special teams . . . fired off four field goal attempts and one PAT at Iowa, highlighted by 58-yard field goal attempt as time expired in the first half, along with other special teams.
2022 SEASON (REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE): Earned Academic All-Big Ten honors for the second year in a row . . . played in the last five games of the season on special teams, totaling 32 plays on special teams units, to earn his first letter . . . earned the team’s Scholar-Athlete Award at the annual Spartan Academic Excellence Gala . . . named one of the PNC Achievers Student-Athletes of the Month in February 2023 . . . Big Ten Distinguished Scholar.
2021 SEASON (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN): Academic All-Big Ten honoree . . . earned Big Ten Distinguished Scholar honors . . . did not see game action.
2020 SEASON (FRESHMAN): Redshirted.
HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: Named first-team all-state as a linebacker by the Detroit Free Press, The Detroit News, The Associated Press and the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association . . . selected the Lansing State Journal Defensive Player of the Year . . . Lansing State Journal Dream Team honoree . . . helped lead Lansing Catholic to a 13-1 record and the MHSAA Division 5 state championship . . . sparked a fourth-quarter comeback in the state title game against Almont with an interception and a forced fumble and recovery; finished with a game-high 20 tackles, including 1.5 for losses (4 yards) and one sack (3 yards), and two fumble recoveries . . . named The Detroit News Division 5 state title game MVP for his impressive performance at Ford Field . . . recorded a career-high 225 tackles (16.1 avg.) as a senior in 2019, including 21 TFLs and 5.0 sacks . . . was the top tackler in the state of Michigan in 2019 and posted one of the highest totals in the nation . . . also had three interceptions for 70 yards, including one returned for a touchdown . . . credited with six forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries . . . tallied double-digit tackles in 12 of LCC’s 14 games, including four 20-tackle games . . . compiled 130 tackles his junior season in 2018 with 14 TFLs and four sacks . . . also had two picks . . . played wide receiver and tight end on offense; had six catches for 170 yards as a senior playing tight end . . . two-time first-team all-conference honoree . . . played for Coach Jim Ahern at Lansing Catholic and was a team captain his senior season . . . named team co-MVP in 2019 . . . ended his career as the school’s all-time leader in tackles with 380 . . . son of Todd and Kari Edwards . . . born Feb. 24, 2002 . . . his father, Todd, is the Executive Director of MSU Student-Athlete Support Services . . . 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.
2024 SEASON (REDSHIRT SENIOR): Played in all 12 games . . . played 129 overall snaps on multiple special teams units and also served as the team’s long snapper on field goals and PATs in the last four games of the season . . . Academic All-Big Ten and Academic All-District honoree . . . named a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar for the fourth consecutive year . . . was a finalist on the Academic All-America ballot . . . for the third straight year, earned the team’s Scholar-Athlete Award at the 2025 Spartan Academic Excellence Gala, which is presented to the individual from each program who maintains the highest cumulative grade point average on their team . . . snapped in six games overall (PVAMU, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Purdue, Rutgers) . . . recorded four tackles (one solo, three assists) . . . also had one kick return for 17 yards . . . played 16 snaps at linebacker . . . snapped on two PATs in windy and snowy conditions against Rutgers in Spartan Stadium in regular-season finale . . . successfully snapped on two PATs and one field goal in cold, rainy, wet conditions in Purdue game, adding one fair catch on a kickoff . . . snapped on one field goal and two PAT attempts in game at Illinois, and also tallied two tackles, both on punt returns, and made three fair catches on kickoffs . . . successfully snapped on one field goal and one PAT in Indiana game, also making a fair catch on three kickoff returns, part of playing 16 special teams snaps . . . saw multiple special teams action in Michigan game, including getting called upon for long-snapper, successfully snapping on one field goal and one PAT . . . saw special teams action in Iowa game . . . was in on special teams action at Oregon, logging 12 snaps . . . tallied two tackles on defense, doubling career total, in notching 12 defensive snaps in Ohio State game, along with 20 special teams snaps . . . was in on special teams action in Boston College game, including making a fair catch on a kickoff return . . . saw special teams action in Prairie View A&M game, including time at long snapper in a back-up role with three snaps on PATs, and was named the Spartan Special Teams Player of the Week . . . was in on eight special teams plays in game at Maryland . . . saw special teams action vs. FAU, getting in on a tackle on a punt return that was wiped out by a blocking penalty on FAU . . . was honorary game captain for season opener vs. Florida Atlantic.
2023 SEASON (REDSHIRT JUNIOR): Played in all 12 games . . . was the team’s starting long snapper on field goals and PATs the final eight games of the season . . . saw action on multiple special teams units and made 137 appearances on special teams, fifth most on the team . . . also played 16 snaps at linebacker . . . recorded tackles against Michigan and Penn State . . . Academic All-District, Academic All-Big Ten and Big Ten Distinguished Scholar honoree . . . recipient of the team’s Scholar-Athlete Award at the annual SASS Academic Gala . . . handled long-snapping duties for placekicking, successfully snapping on 23 special teams plays with 14 field goal attempts and nine PATs . . . successfully snapped on three PATs and one field goal in game at Indiana . . . snapped on two field goal attempts at Ohio State . . . fired off snaps on three field goal attempts and two PATs in Nebraska game . . . got off three successful snaps on three field goal attempts in cold conditions at Minnesota, in addition to being on special teams . . . successfully snapped on three PATs and one field goal in cold and rainy conditions at Rutgers, and was also on special teams . . . fired off four field goal attempts and one PAT at Iowa, highlighted by 58-yard field goal attempt as time expired in the first half, along with other special teams.
2022 SEASON (REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE): Earned Academic All-Big Ten honors for the second year in a row . . . played in the last five games of the season on special teams, totaling 32 plays on special teams units, to earn his first letter . . . earned the team’s Scholar-Athlete Award at the annual Spartan Academic Excellence Gala . . . named one of the PNC Achievers Student-Athletes of the Month in February 2023 . . . Big Ten Distinguished Scholar.
2021 SEASON (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN): Academic All-Big Ten honoree . . . earned Big Ten Distinguished Scholar honors . . . did not see game action.
2020 SEASON (FRESHMAN): Redshirted.
HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: Named first-team all-state as a linebacker by the Detroit Free Press, The Detroit News, The Associated Press and the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association . . . selected the Lansing State Journal Defensive Player of the Year . . . Lansing State Journal Dream Team honoree . . . helped lead Lansing Catholic to a 13-1 record and the MHSAA Division 5 state championship . . . sparked a fourth-quarter comeback in the state title game against Almont with an interception and a forced fumble and recovery; finished with a game-high 20 tackles, including 1.5 for losses (4 yards) and one sack (3 yards), and two fumble recoveries . . . named The Detroit News Division 5 state title game MVP for his impressive performance at Ford Field . . . recorded a career-high 225 tackles (16.1 avg.) as a senior in 2019, including 21 TFLs and 5.0 sacks . . . was the top tackler in the state of Michigan in 2019 and posted one of the highest totals in the nation . . . also had three interceptions for 70 yards, including one returned for a touchdown . . . credited with six forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries . . . tallied double-digit tackles in 12 of LCC’s 14 games, including four 20-tackle games . . . compiled 130 tackles his junior season in 2018 with 14 TFLs and four sacks . . . also had two picks . . . played wide receiver and tight end on offense; had six catches for 170 yards as a senior playing tight end . . . two-time first-team all-conference honoree . . . played for Coach Jim Ahern at Lansing Catholic and was a team captain his senior season . . . named team co-MVP in 2019 . . . ended his career as the school’s all-time leader in tackles with 380 . . . son of Todd and Kari Edwards . . . born Feb. 24, 2002 . . . his father, Todd, is the Executive Director of MSU Student-Athlete Support Services . . . 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.
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