Mountaineer fans have a new favorite after the Backyard Brawl: Tye Edwards. Edwards made a true name for himself after a standout performance, proving to Mountaineer fans and rivals alike that he is a force to be reckoned with. Read more: Player Spotlight – Tye Edwards.
History and Highlights
Coming to WVU as a Redshirt Senior, Tye Edwards is a seasoned running back. Edwards played for Northern Iowa in his 2024 and 2023 seasons. In 2024, Edwards earned All-MVFC Honorable Mention. He rushed for 1,047 yards on 157 carries (6.4 avg.) with six touchdowns and a long of 75 yards. He added 13 receptions for 77 yards and a touchdown.
In 2023, Edwards appeared in nine games and led the team with 536 rushing yards on 109 carries. He tied for a team-high five rushing touchdowns and earned Phil Steele All-MVFC Fifth Team honors.
Prior to Northern Iowa, Edwards attended UTSA under coach Jeff Traylor. Edwards played in three games and recorded 44 rushing yards on 14 carries.
The ball carrier began his career at Georgia Military Academy in 2019 and spent 2020 and 2021 at Hutchinson Community College.
Edwards in the Backyard Brawl
In Rich Rod’s postgame press conference, he had this to say about RB Tye Edwards.
“Yes, he’s gotten a lot more work the last two weeks since he became eligible. He was in pretty good shape. We told him that he is a big, strong back and he needs to use his power. He did today. He ran with a purpose.”
Rodriguez went on to say,
“That’s a tough position to play and those guys have a lot of pride, and I think it was good that we won it running the ball at the end.”
Mountaineer fans were stressed after Jahiem White’s injury in the Ohio match, where the Mountaineers fell 10-17. Tye Edwards didn’t take long to make an immediate impact on the Brawl, though, tallying his first touchdown as a Mountaineer on a 12-yard run in the second quarter. His second touchdown of the game came in the third quarter, on a 1-yard attempt. Edwards’ third touchdown in overtime would help seal West Virginia’s victory over the Pittsburgh Panthers.
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His performance was historic: not only did Edwards help the Mountaineers secure a sought-after win in the Backyard Brawl rivalry, but he also became the first Mountaineer to rush for three touchdowns in a game since quarterback Garrett Greene. Greene had last done so against Cincinnati on November 18th, 2023. Edwards also became the first running back to accomplish the feat since CJ Donaldson Jr., on September 17th, 2022, against Towson.
Edwards finished the night with 141 yards on 25 carries, including a 27-yard run. He also became the first Mountaineer to topple 100 rushing yards this season.
Tye Edwards’ Thoughts on the Game
After the game, Edwards explained just how much perseverance and power football factored into this rival victory.
“They call it the heavy package, nine offensive linemen. Being the heaviest back, I was ready for it. It was big for them. Even in the hotel, I was thinking: ‘One more play, one more drive.’”
Edwards also shared about how he deals with the mental side of gameday.
“Every game I played, I got real bad anxiety. I’ll get tired, and all the training and running don’t mean anything. The most important thing is to remove all the doubt, all the anxiousness, all the nervousness.”
Having to step in for a running back like Jahiem White would bring a lot of nerves for Edwards, but above all, he’s been a great teammate to White.
“When he went down, I told my brother, ‘I got you.’ I told him, ‘Keep your head up, I got you.’”
For Mountaineers fans, Tye Edwards’ performance was more than just numbers. It was heart and grit, and these fans will remember it for years to come.
