About Mike Edwards
An incredibly talented safety, Mike "Badger" Edwards has been regarded as one of the best up and coming defensive players in the NFL. His natural instincts and positioning, coupled with his aggression and versatility allow Edwards to make stops on big plays, slow down opponents' momentum, and even shift the tide of a game with some interceptions. His abilities have made him a vital piece of the Buccaneers' defense.
Edwards' monstrous athleticism and quick mind was apparent at a young age. During his time in Winton Woods High School in Cincinnati, Mike played multiple sports including basketball and baseball, and even competed in Track & Field events. However, it was apparent that Mike had a natural gift for playing football.
In his senior year, Edwards' recorded 7 interceptions, 2 fumble recoveries, 46 tackles, and an average of 13.7 yards per punt return including 3 TDs. By the end of his high school career, Mike had received several honors, including being names first team All-Ohio as a DB, and was ranked was the 14th best prospect from Ohio and the 25th best safety in the nation. His performances throughout high school impressed scouts from all over the country and got him many offers from a number of schools including Missouri, Wisconsin, Nebraska, and Vanderbilt, to name a few. In the end, he chose to play for the University of Kentucky, playing as a safety for the Wildcats.
Edwards continued to develop and refine his game while at the University of Kentucky and even made several achievements along the way. Edwards played in every game throughout each season and finished his college career with 318 tackles and 10 picks — two coming off of then Heisman winner, Lamar Jackson. He was an All-SEC member for three consecutive years and was both on the Thorpe Award and Nronko Nagurski Trophy watch lists in 2018. In 2019, Edwards entered the draft and was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 3rd round.
In his time in the NFL, Edwards has put his killer instincts and across the board talent on display. His ability to recognize and read routes, puts him in the perfect place at the right time to stop a play from developing. He has quickly become one of Tampa Bay's most impactful defensive players. In just his second NFL season, Edwards played a massive role in taking his team to the Super Bowl, providing a much needed defensive secondary threat to the team and stepping up in the Divisional Round against the New Orleans Saints by picking off Drew Brees late in the 4th quarter. Tampa ended up winning that game 30-20. Mike stepped up again and made a clutch play in the Bucs' 31-26 win over the Green Bay Packers by breaking up a pass in the end zone late in the 4th.