While everyone seems to be going coo-coo for cocoa puffs with the surprise drafting of Jimmy Clausen at quarterback by the Carolina Panthers, I’m actually excited about the other quarterback they picked up – App State’s Armanti Edwards.

Though you can never expect much from rookies in the NFL, he’s the one who I believe will get on the field on a consistent basis for the Panthers next season and have fans smiling from ear-to-ear.

You see with Clausen on board, along with Tony Pike from Cincinnati competing for playing time at quarterback next season with Matt Moore and others, Edwards won’t be taking snaps under center. Instead, he’ll be looking to catch passes from whomever wins the quarterback battle as well as reinvigorating Carolina’s special teams by returning punts or kickoffs.

Steve Smith played a similar role when he first started with Carolina years ago. And just like Smith, Edwards is a playmaker who is liable to make an exciting play any time he touches the ball.

His resume at App State, where he led the Mountaineers to a couple of national championships (Football Championship Subdivision) and was a two-time national player of the year, is littered with highlight moments with him working his magic passing and running the football. Arguably one of his most memorable games came a few years ago when App State shocked the world by beating Michigan.

If you still don’t get the potential that picking Edwards could have, then think about the playmaking ability of C.J. Spiller, who’s headed to the Buffalo Bills.

Don’t get me wrong; Edwards hasn’t competed in one Panthers practice yet (minicamp starts April 30) and there are plenty of other talented rookies as well as veterans who will be vying for time on the field, not to mention the learning curve he has with this position change.

Still, I would hedge my bets with Edwards being successful. He has a high football IQ and his athleticism is unquestioned.

More important, Edwards is a winner.
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Damon Ford is a former journalist who is now a public relations professional working in the public and private sectors in Charlotte.
 

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