By Jack McLoone
By most projections, former Fordham running back Chase Edmonds was expected to be selected in the 2018 NFL Draft in the later rounds on Saturday, if at all. Instead, as Fordham’s student body prepared for T-Pain, the Arizona Cardinals selected Edmonds in the fourth round with pick 134.
It’s safe to say the majority of Fordham’s success over the past four years is due to Chase Edmonds.
He is the most prolific rusher in Patriot League history, and would have broken the FCS rushing records if it weren’t for an ankle injury that cost him all or part of seven games last season. He finished his career with 5,862 rushing yards (fifth in FCS history) and 7,374 all-purpose yards (first in Patriot League, 10th in FCS).
He also holds basically every rushing record at Fordham. He finished with 67 rushing touchdowns (fourth-best in FCS) and 74 all-purpose touchdowns. He burst on the scene his freshman year, setting the single-season rushing record when he ran for 1,828 yards, when he was named Patriot League and ECAC Rookie of the Year. He was a second-team All-American in 2015, and first team in 2016, when he was also Patriot League and ECAC Player of the Year as a junior. He also had a school-record 359 yards rushing against Lafayette in 2016.
When The Fordham Ram did a Senior Profile on Edmonds, he said that he almost followed his former head coach, Joe Moorhead, to Penn State when the latter became the offensive coordinator in Happy Valley. Moorhead has since moved to Mississippi State to be their head coach, but still had nice words about his first star running back (Saquon Barkley who?).
“I am incredibly excited for Chase and his family. He worked very hard for this opportunity, and I’m very proud to see him realize a lifelong dream,” said Moorhead. “Chase was an outstanding representative of Fordham University and our football program. He leaves Rose Hill as one of the most decorated and accomplished players in Fordham history. I’m excited to see him take it to the big stage in the NFL.”
Edmonds joins former Rams’ quarterback John Skelton as players from Fordham drafted by the Cardinals. Skelton was a fifth round selection in the 2010 Draft.
Edmonds, who will wear number 29 (I guess he’ll have to change his Twitter handle), will compete to be the backup behind David Johnson with D.J. Foster and T.J. Logan. Johnson also played in the FCS at Northern Iowa.
He could also see some special teams duties, something he did at Fordham, though less and less as the coaching staff tried to preserve him.
Edmonds made waves at the NFL Combine, when he recorded the fastest times in the shuttle run and three-cone drill among all running backs. He also had a strong Pro Day. Along with the Cardinals, he visited the New Orleans Saints and New England Patriots.
In a piece published on the Cardinals’ website, general manager Steve Keim spoke glowingly of Edmonds.
“We were extremely high on him from the start. He’s tough … and a guy, production was off the charts,” said Keim. “He visited with [first round selection, quarterback] Josh Rosen, went to dinner with us, and fit in quite well.”
Edmonds was pretty reserved in his Senior Profile when asked about his message to teams looking to drafting, as he hadn’t yet finished his Fordham career.
“I don’t want to say nothing really right now. Just that I think, to me, time will tell,” he said. “The cream will rise to the top. I think once I get my opportunity, whoever it is – I don’t need all 32 teams to call, just one to believe in Chase, just like there was only one team that believed in Chase coming out of high school. And I’ll seize the opportunity when it comes.”
And now he has that chance. Good luck Chase, I’ll be buying an Edmonds 29 jersey (or t-shirt, jerseys are expensive).
