@fullname - @sport - University of Akron Athletics

Photo by: Jeff Harwell

Photo by: Jeff Harwell

Van Edwards, Jr.

Position:
RB
Class:
Senior
Height:
5-9
Weight:
200
Hometown:
Cape Coral, Fla.
High School:
Island Coast HS

As a Senior (2018): Recipient of the Harry “Doc” Smith Award ... started 11 games at running game … Zips’ rushing leader with 558 yards and three touchdowns on 147 carries … also had 13 receptions for 105 yards and a touchdown ... in the win over Morgan State, led the Zips with 109 yards, marking the second 100-yard rushing performance of his career … had 17 carries and two touchdowns on the day … also had two receptions for 22 yards … finished the game with a team-best 131 all-purpose yards … named the Summa Health Student-Athlete of the Week (Sept. 10) … in the stunning win at Northwestern, led UA with 53 yards on 14 carries … rushed 12 times for 23 yards at Iowa State … rushed six times for four yards against Miami … led the Zips at Buffalo with 55 yards and returned two kicks for 27 yards … in the win at Kent State, rushed 13 times for 39 yards … in the win over Central Michigan, led all rushers with a career-high 112 yards and a touchdown, eclipsing the 100-yard rushing mark for the third time in his career and first time this season … his 20-yard TD with a minute to go in the first half gave UA a 17-0 edge at intermission … had 20 carries on the day and averaged 5.6 yards per carry … against Northern Illinois, led UA with 38 yards on 12 carries … at Eastern Michigan, had 17 carries for 53 yards and a three-yard reception … rushed 18 times for 69 yards against Bowling Green … had 19 rushing yards a three receptions for 38 yards and a touchdown at Ohio … the 10-yard touchdown reception was the second receiving TD of his career … lettered … named the Offensive MVP following spring drills.

As a Junior (2017): Played in 14 games with three starts at running back … second in team rushing with 343 yards and two touchdowns on 94 carries … top kick returner … had 19 returns for 375 yards … in the MAC Championship game against Toledo, had 46 yards on 10 carries … in the win over Kent State, led the Zips with 55 yards on nine carries … also had two kickoff returns for 35 yards … in the win over Ohio, had four carries for 21 yards and had five kickoff returns for 82 yards … at Miami, had a 13-yard reception and three kickoff returns for 54 yards … had two returns for 51 yards, including a 28-yard return, against Buffalo … at Toledo, led the Zips with nine carries for 25 yards … also had three kickoff returns for 66 yards … in the win at Western Michigan, rushed 13 times for 38 yards … in the win over Ball State, had 19 yards on seven carries … in the MAC win at Bowling Green, led the rushers with 14 carries for 70 yards and a touchdown … against Iowa State, had four carries for 16 yards and a 23-yard kickoff return … in the win over Arkansas Pine Bluff, rushed nine times for 47 yards and a touchdown … at No. 6 Penn State, had five carries and three kickoff returns for 64 yards, including a long of 24 yards … lettered … preseason third-team All-MAC at kick returner by Athlon Sports and College Sports Madness … wore jersey #7 this season after wearing #23 for two seasons.

As a Sophomore (2016): Played in 11 games with seven starts … Zips’ top rusher with 492 yards and three touchdowns on 100 carries … had 22 kickoff returns for 524 yards (23.8 avg.) … carried the ball three times for seven yards at Ohio … led the Zips with 84 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries against Bowling Green … against Toledo, rushed eight times for 23 yards … rushed for 56 yards at Buffalo … in the win at Ball State, led the Zips with a career-high 16 carries for a career-high 112 yards and a touchdown … it marked the first 100-yard rushing performance of his career … MAC Offensive Player of the Week (Oct. 24) … had 28 yards on six carries against No. 23 Western Michigan … in the win over Miami, had 10 carries for 18 yards … in the win at Kent State, led the Zips with eight rushes for 44 yards … also returned a career-best four kickoffs for a career-high 156 yards, including a career-long return of 75 yards … the 156 total return yards are the third-best in school history … made first collegiate start against Appalachian State … led the rushing with seven rushes for 89 yards and his first collegiate touchdown … averaged 12.7 yards per carry … had two carries at No. 10 Wisconsin … against VMI, had six carries for 28 yards … lettered.

As a Freshman (2015): Played in 12 games … one of six true freshmen to see game action … served as a kick returner … rushed 14 times for 63 yards on the season … top kick returner with 20 returns for 414 yards (20.7 avg.) … in the win over Utah State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, had an 18-yard kick return …in the win over Buffalo, carried the ball three times for seven yards … at Bowling Green, rushed six times for 30 yards … in the win over Eastern Michigan, had 10 yards on two carries and three kick returns for 84 yards, including a long of 31 yards … had three kick returns for 69 yards against Pittsburgh … lettered.

High School: Running back at Island Coast HS for coach Wayne Blair … as a senior, rushed for 1,018 yards and 14 touchdowns on 102 carries … helped team to a 10-3 record and district championship … as a junior, ran 40 times for 372 yards and five touchdowns in three games … as a sophomore, rushed for 1,408 yards and 13 touchdowns on 177 carries.

Personal: Born October 25, 1996 … parents are Diana and Van Edwards, Sr. … has four brothers and four sisters … sport management major.