Jahwan Edwards is the workhorse running back of Ball State’s football team, a key cog in a part of a well-oiled machine.
It’s a machine that is currently second in the Mid-American Conference in both points per game and offensive yards per game.
As opposed to most collegiate running backs, Edwards doesn’t begin running toward the hole between linemen immediately. He has a more patient running style.
“The way the line is, I have to make the linebackers commit to the line,” the junior said of his running style.
Edwards said because of Ball State’s blocking scheme, he doesn’t need to focus on the defenders most would, the ones immediately in front of him.
“I’m really looking at the linebackers,” Edwards said. “I don’t even pay attention to the d-line because I feel like we don’t get tackles for loss a lot.”
He’s not wrong. Of the seven games Edwards has played in this season — he missed two with an injury — he has just 14 yards of loss. In the two games against the University of Toledo and Kent State University, he had zero negative plays.
“I’m not worried about getting tackled from the backside,” he said. “The offensive line has done a great job. I just have to be patient.”
Edwards will take a carry, run to the line and stop, waiting for an opening.
“You have to have a change of pace,” he said. “It isn’t always about the big hit. I’ll go out for three or four [yards]. I know the big one is going to come soon. You have to be patient. … The linemen do a great job of opening it up, I just have to keep my feet moving.”
The offensive line was a mix of four new starters this season. Last season’s line was a veteran line with 164 combined starts, but this season’s came together late in the offseason. One of the tackle positions wasn’t decided until a few weeks before the season opener.
“They’re definitely coming together,” Edwards said.
Head coach Pete Lembo had similar thoughts on the line.
“You’ve seen them get better each week,” he said.
Edwards will sometimes stop in the middle of being tackled, in a way to think about the best way to continue running.
“When I get contact, I stop, feel what’s coming and feel how they’re trying to tackle me and then go,” he said.
It wasn’t something he learned over time, Edwards said, he caught himself doing it once. When people asked him about it, he said he did that so he wouldn’t lose momentum when somebody went for his legs.
Edwards’ teammate, senior linebacker Kenneth Lee, sees his running style every day in practice. Lee isn’t hesitant when asked how good Edwards is.
“I think Jahwan is the best back in the MAC, to be honest,“ he said. “He’s the best back I’ve ever played with — just look at all the numbers.”
The numbers say Edwards is currently sixth on Ball State’s all-time rushing yards list. He’s just 1,148 yards away from beating the current leader, Marcus Merriweather, who played for Ball State from 1999-2002. With a little more than a season left for Edwards, he has a good chance of breaking the record.
With the 15 games remaining in Edwards’ eligibility, not including possible bowl games or Mid-American Conference championships, he needs to average at least 76.6 rushing yards per game. Over his career, Edwards has averaged 89.2 yards per game.
Edwards has already earned the title of most rushing touchdowns in Ball State history in the win over the University of Virginia. He currently has 37, three more than the next-highest rusher, Merriweather.
By the time he finishes his career at Ball State, Edwards could be statistically the best running back to ever play for Ball State.
Edwards missed two games this season with concussion-related symptoms. Upon returning, he scored three touchdowns in three straight weeks against Eastern Michigan University, Toledo and Virginia.
“Nine touchdowns in three weeks? That’s …” Lee shook his head and his voice trailed off.
“It wasn’t like we played a cakewalk. [We played] some good guys. He’s played his butt off. I have faith in him.”
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