MikeEdwards

Career

Never missed a game in his four-year career at Kentucky, playing in 51 games with 44 consecutive starts
Totaled 318 career tackles, just the 19th player in school history with 300 or more tackles
Ranks second in UK history in tackles among defensive backs, behind only Darryl Bishop (348 from 1971-73)
Three-time All-SEC member (2016, 2017, 2018)
Thorpe Award Watch List (2017, 2018)
Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List (2018)
As a senior, ranked second on the team in tackles (76), TFLs (9.0), PBUs (6) and INTs (2)
With two interceptions in 2018, he finished with 10 pickoffs in his career, tying Larry Carter (1977-79), Buzz Burnam (1970-72) and Marcus McClinton (2004-08) for fourth place in UK history
Became just the sixth player in school history with at least two INT returns for a TD … Charted a 66-yard INT return for a score on the first defensive possession of the MTSU game on Nov. 17, 2018 and had an INT for a TD as a freshman vs. Charlotte on Nov. 21, 2015
His return in 2018 was UK’s first interception return for a TD since Marcus McWilson vs. Mississippi State in 2016 and longest INT return for a TD since Josh Forrest’s 81-yarder vs. Louisville in 2015
Had 11 double-figure tackle games, including a career-high 15 vs. Georgia on Nov. 5, 2016
Had a career-high three TFL at Texas A&M on Oct. 5, 2018
Graduated in December with a degree in family sciences with a minor in criminology

2018 – Senior (Team Captain)

Started in all 13 games
Ranked second on the team in tackles (76), TFLs (9.0), PBUs (6) and INTs (2)
Played in the Reese’s Senior Bowl, charting two tackles
Second-Team All-SEC by AP
Third-Team All-SEC by Athlon
Thorpe Award Watch List
Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List
Just the sixth player in school history with at least two INT returns for a TD … also had one in 2015
Opened the scoring with a 66-yard interception return for a touchdown on the first defensive possession of the MTSU game … UK first interception return for a TD since Marcus McWilson vs. Mississippi State in 2016 and longest INT return for a TD since Josh Forrest’s 81-yarder vs. Louisville in 2015
Had a season-high 12 tackles vs. MTSU, his second double-figure game of the season and 11th of his career … Had 11 tackles vs. Georgia
Had a career-high three TFL at Texas A&M
Got his first interception of the season, ninth of his career in the win over South Carolina
Charted six tackles and one PBU at No. 25 Florida and had six tackles in the win over No. 14 Mississippi State
First-Team Preseason All-SEC (Coaches, Athlon Sports, Phil Steele, Street and Smith’s, Lindy’s
Second-Team Preseason All-SEC (Media)

2017 – Junior

Phil Steele All-SEC First Team
Jim Thorpe Preseason Watch List
Started in all 13 games, giving him a streak of 31 consecutive starts
Led the team and ranked tied for ninth in the SEC in tackles per game with 7.5
Had a team-high four INTs and seven PBUs
Just the fourth player in school history to lead the team in both interceptions and tackles in the same season, joining Darryl Bishop in 1972, Quentus Cumby in 2002 and Danny Trevathan in 2011
Ranked 38th nationally and was third in the SEC in total interceptions (4)
Ranked tied for 11th in the SEC in passes defended (.83 per game)
Had five double-figure tackle games this season and nine in his career
Had 11 tackles and his first career QBH vs. Ole Miss
Recorded 10 tackles, one sack and 1.5 tackles for loss in the win over Tennessee
His end zone interception on the game’s final play clinched the win over Eastern Michigan
Sealed UK’s win over EKU with a late interception in the fourth quarter
Athlon Sports Preseason All-SEC Second Team Preseason All-SEC Third Team (Media)
Preseason All-SEC Third Team (Coaches)

2016 – Sophomore

Started in all 13 games
Named second-team AP All-SEC and third-team by Athlon and Phil Steele
Led all SEC defensive backs in tackles with 100
Second on the team and seventh in the SEC in tackles per game with 7.7
Had a team-high tying three interceptions
Had two interceptions of Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson in the win over No. 11 Louisville, tying the record for most pickoffs in a Governor’s Cup game … Also tied the record for most Governor’s Cup interceptions in a career
Named SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week after his performance vs. Louisville
Also had an interception vs. Austin Peay
Tied for 10th in the SEC in total passes defended with 11
Had 5.5 tackles for loss
Had 10 or more tackles in four games
Had a career-high 13 tackles against Georgia

2015 – r-Freshman

Had a strong finish to his redshirt freshman campaign, playing in all 12 games and starting the final five of the year
Had 39 tackles, including two tackles for a loss
Added an interception, broke up two passes and forced a fumble
Had at least three tackles in his final six games, including seven tackles at Mississippi State and six at Georgia and Vanderbilt
Forced a fumble at Vandy and picked off his first career pass vs. Charlotte
Had a strong eight-tackle game vs. Tennessee, including his first career tackle for a loss
After his 20-yard interception return for a TD vs. Charlotte, was named SEC Freshman of the Week

2014 – Freshman

High School

A four-star prospect by Rivals and Scout, three-star prospect by 247Sports.com and ESPN
Ranked as the 14th-best prospect in the state of Ohio and 25th-best safety in the nation by Rivals and Scout ranked him the 29th best cornerback in the nation and 256th-best prospect in the country
Great senior season with seven interceptions, two fumble recoveries and 46 tackles to go along with 13.7 yards per punt return including three for touchdowns
Had two interceptions in his team’s first-round playoff game in 2013, helping the squad advance to the second round
Named first-team Division II All-Ohio as a defensive back
Had 92 tackles his junior year with five interceptions, including three returned for touchdowns and two fumbles forced
Returned nine kickoffs junior year for 248 yards and one touchdown
Was named special-mention all-state as a junior
Coached by Andre Parker
Four-sport athlete in high school
Also a guard on the basketball team and a shortstop in baseball
In track and field he was on the 4×100- and 4×400-meter relays and competed in the high jump
Chose UK over Louisville, Missouri, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Nebraska and Vanderbilt

Personal

His nickname is “The Badger”
Born in Cincinnati
Son of Terri and Mike Edwards Jr.
Wears a pink mouthpiece in memory of his aunt, Angie Evans, who passed away from breast cancer in 2013

Community Cats

Mike Says

His nickname is “The Badger”
He chose UK because it felt like home more than any other school
Other than playing in the NFL, his dream job is to be a CSI agent
He chose his jersey number because it’s his favorite number and because of John Elway and Tyrann Mathieu
His life’s theme song is “Three Little Birds” by Bob Marley

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