To running back Jahwan Edwards, his four-yard run to start Ball State’s game-winning drive in the 34-27 win against Toledo was just any other run.
But in the Ball State record book, those four yards helped Edwards become the first running back since 2008 to rush for 1,000 yards in a season, completing one of his personal goals.
“It’s most definitely a goal to run for 1,000 yards,” Edwards said. “Or at least to beat what I had last year. Just to see I’m getting better every year and my offensive line has been tremendous.”
The last running back to reach the milestone in a season was MiQuale Lewis during the 2008 season. That year, he ran for a school record of 1,736 yards.
Edwards’ feat could come as a surprise to some college coaches who passed over him in the recruiting process — Ball State was his only offer from a school in the Football Bowl Subdivision. But to others, his work ethic has allowed him to become Ball State’s latest 1,000-yard rusher.
“Jahwan’s a workhorse,” coach Pete Lembo said. “He seems to get stronger as the game goes on.”
Had he not reached 1,000 yards on the season, Edwards wouldn’t have been upset. He said it’s any running back’s goal to reach that mark, but winning the game is more important.
And Tuesday night’s win over Toledo came from his 105 rushing yards and the clinching touchdown run in the final two minutes.
“You always set personal goals, but the team goal is bigger,” Edwards said. “We were bowl eligible last week so hopefully now we’re automatically in one.”
He’s been able to break the 1,000-yard mark while having a crowded backfield that includes Horactio Banks and Barrington Scott. He also has benefitted from having the most experienced offensive line in the country creating holes for him to run through.
“It starts with the guys up front,” Lembo said. “We’ve just kept pounding and wearing and leaning on them where runs that were three or four yards in the first half become bigger ones in the second half.”
Edwards is unlikely to break Lewis’ school record with two regular season games remaining, but he’s likely to find himself moving up the leaderboards in Ball State’s record books by the time he graduates.
As just a sophomore, Edwards has rushed for 1,840 in his career and has 21 career touchdowns. With those numbers, he’s currently on pace to break Marcus Merriweather’s records of most yards in a career (4,002) and rushing touchdowns in a career (34).
He may not be concerned with records, but breaking those would be something Edwards would have to reflect on once he leaves Ball State.
