Trey Edmunds: Will He Reach His Potential?
By Tim Thomas
Nov 30, 2013; Charlottesville, VA, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies running back Trey Edmunds (14) carries the ball past Virginia Cavaliers cornerback Maurice Canady (26) to score a touchdown in the second quarter at Scott Stadium. The Hokies won 16-6. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
When Trey Edmunds was a senior in high school, he was seen as a 3-star athlete coming out of Dan River High School in Ringgold, Virginia that would likely end up at running back. Edmunds didn’t bring any buzz when he arrived in Blacksburg being a 3-star prospect and was not a guy that the Hokies expected to rely on in 2012. Unsurprisngly, Edmunds would end up being redshirted that fall and get the chance to develop without touching the field and using up a year of elligibility.
However, Trey Edmunds showed signs in the winter and spring following the 2012 season that he was ready to make a serious run at replacing David Wilson and becoming the Hokies’ starting running back. Edmunds ran a 4.37 40 yard dash in off-season training and then finished off his spring well with a 82-yard 2-touchdown performance.
Hokie Nation was now well aware that Trey Edmunds was ready to become the next Virginia Tech running back.
Entering the first game against Alabama, many were skeptical about the Hokies’ chances and by the end of the game, they would be right. However, Trey Edmunds would get a big 77-yard touchdown run early on to make this game quite interesting with some starting to think the Hokies could pull the upset. Unfortunately, the Hokies would get blown out but Edmunds would end up with a strong performance of 20 carries for 132 rushing yards and 1 touchdown.
Edmunds would end up having an up-and-down redshirt freshman season but his performances would usually come in the games when he got the most carries over the course of the season. Edmunds would run for 110 yards on 22 carries against Marshall in a triple overtime victory. Edmunds proved an ability to shine in some of the biggest, nationally televised games when he had 14 carries for 74 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns against Miami.
However, Edmunds’ strong redshirt freshman season would have an unfortunate ending.
Nov 16, 2013; Blacksburg, VA, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies running back Trey Edmunds (14) runs as offensive linesman Caleb Farris (79) is in the background in the first quarter at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Trey Edmunds had a strong game going against Virginia as he had 11 carries for 93 rushing yards and seemed likely to have his third game of 100+ rushing yards in 2013. However, this game would end in a very unfortunate way for Edmunds as he would break his left tibia in this game.
This injury has led to a long, on-going recovery that has gone well as we know so far. Edmunds did miss all of Spring Practice but his strong redshirt freshman season has put him in position to be in great shape to be the starting running back this fall. Marshawn Williams and J.C. Coleman both had good springs but Edmunds should definitely still be the starting running back.
However, the question remains about if Edmunds will be able to reach his full potential or will this be a recurring injury?
Missing a full spring for Edmunds will definitely hurt but this will be up to the redshirt sophomore to make sure he is in shape and ready to go. There is no reason to think that Trey Edmunds won’t be ready to play at a high level this fall as the way he earned 10 starts this past fall proved that but an injury as significant as a broken tibia does raise questions.
Trey Edmunds has the talent and work ethic to reach his potential and be the next great Virginia Tech running back. Traditionally, broken tibias aren’t a recurring injury but you never can fully know with an injury like this. For now though, there is no reason to think that this will be a recurring injury for him in the future and I would expect Edmunds to be the next great Virginia Tech running back.
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