Armanti Edwards Armanti Fredrico Edwards ( born March 8 , 1988 ) is an American football player for the Carolina Panthers . He was the starting quarterback for the Appalachian State Mountaineers football team from 2006 – 09 . He was drafted by the Panthers in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft . In addition to leading the Mountaineers to consecutive NCAA Division I Football Championship s ( FCS ) in 2006 and 2007 , Edwards became the first quarterback in Southern Conference history to lead his team to four straight conference championships . He became the first quarterback in NCAA Division I history to throw for 9 , 000 and rush for 4 , 000 yards in a career , accomplishing the feat against Furman on October 31 , 2009 . Later in the season he would become the first quarterback to pass for over 10 , 000 yards and rush for an additional 4 , 000 yards in a career . He is also the first back - to - back and two - time Walter Payton Award winner , given to the Football Championship Subdivision ' s most outstanding offensive player , receiving the award in 2008 and 2009 . Early life . Armanti is the son of Deborah Anderson and Freddie Edwards . At birth , Edwards weighed 4 pounds 11 ounces and was delivered 10 days late . In September 2006 , Freddie Edwards was convicted of a 2005 murder and sentenced to 30 years in prison . High school career . At Greenwood High , under coach Shell Dula , he was named to the Greenwood Touchdown Club / Index - Journal All - Lakelands Team . Edwards originally played wide receiver , but in his senior year moved under center . The transition occurred late in the recruiting process , and he drew some interest from New Mexico State , Memphis , South Carolina , and Vanderbilt . After only receiving an offer from New Mexico State , he decided to honor his commitment to Appalachian State , in part because they would let him stay a quarterback . Armanti Edwards graduated with a 3 . 3 GPA . College career . 2006 . Armanti Edwards led the Mountaineers to the FCS ( formerly Division I - AA ) National Championship in 2006 as a true freshman , beating the Minutemen of UMass 28 – 17 . He finished the 2006 season with 2 , 251 yards and 15 touchdowns passing , and 1 , 153 yards and 15 touchdowns rushing . Edwards joined a select list as the fifth Division I player ( Missouri ' s Brad Smith and Texas ' Vince Young are among the others ) , and second freshman , to accomplish the feat . Edwards was named the Southern Conference Freshman of the Year at the end of the season . 2007 . Edwards started the 2007 season by guiding Appalachian State to a 34 – 32 upset victory over fifth - ranked Michigan of the Football Bowl Subdivision on September 1 , in a game that was named the " Biggest Upset of 2007 " by " Sports Illustrated " . In the game , Edwards threw for 227 yards and three touchdowns while also totaling 62 yards and a touchdown on the ground . On December 7 , in a semifinal playoff game against Richmond , Edwards set the single game FCS rushing record for a quarterback , rushing for 313 yards and 4 touchdowns on 31 carries . He also completed 14 of 16 passes for 192 yards and 3 touchdowns . Edwards had been mentioned as a possible candidate for the Heisman Trophy in the 2008 season . Edwards established himself as a threat through the air and along the ground , and garnered elite status within the division . He and the Mountaineers won a third consecutive national championship , beating the Delaware Fightin ' Blue Hens 49 – 21 on December 14 . He outplayed future Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco in that game . 2008 . The Mountaineers began the 2008 campaign against the LSU Tigers , the first time defending FBS and FCS champions have met to open the season . LSU prevailed 41 - 13 , with Edwards accounting for 178 of App State ' s 239 total yards . Edwards accounted for 440 yards of total offense , becoming the Southern Conference ' s all - time leader in yards with a 70 – 24 victory over the Wofford Terriers on October 31 . On November 15 , the Mountaineers clinched the Southern Conference championship , joining West Virginia ( 1953 – 56 ) , Furman ( 1980 – 83 ) and Georgia Southern ( 1997 – 2002 ) as the only programs to win four straight titles , with a 24 – 16 victory over the Elon Phoenix . In his 36th career start , he became the 26th FCS player in history to surpass 10 , 000 yards of career total offense in Appalachian ' s win over South Carolina State in the First Round of the 2008 playoffs . He was named the 2008 Southern Conference Offensive Player of the Year , and was the winner of the 2008 Walter Payton Award , given to the top FCS offensive player . Edwards threw a career - worst 5 interceptions in a quarterfinal loss to eventual tournament winner , Richmond , denying Appalachian State their 4th consecutive FCS championship . 2009 . Before the start of the season , Edwards was involved in a lawn mowing accident , resulting in a trip to the hospital where he was treated and released . The injury sidelined him for the season opener against the East Carolina Pirates , a game which the Mountaineers would lose 29 – 24 . With a 27 – 10 victory over Elon on November 14 , Edwards became the only quarterback in conference history to win four consecutive championships . Edwards ' college football career ended on December 12 in a playoff semifinal game against the Montana Grizzlies . The 24 – 17 loss was the highest rated FCS postseason game ever broadcast according to Nielsen and the NCAA . The following day , Edwards graduated after just three and a half years with a degree in graphic arts . On December 17 , in a landslide victory , Edwards received the Walter Payton Award making him the first ever two - time recipient of the award . < nowiki > * < / nowiki > - Unanimous selection Professional career . 2010 NFL Draft . Edwards was selected in the third round , pick 89 , of the 2010 draft by the Carolina Panthers . Edwards could see the field at a variety of positions including wide receiver , kickoff returner , and quarterback in the wildcat formation . He was first activated in the 2010 season for the October 10th game against the Chicago Bears . 2010 Season . After a 34 - 3 loss against New Orleans and the loss of Matt Moore to the injured reserve list , Coach Fox has hinted that Edwards would see more snaps at quarterback in practice . Edwards was named the emergency / third quarterback for the first time before the November 14th game at Tampa Bay , but did not see any game action . On December 12 , Edwards featured at quarterback for one snap against the Atlanta Falcons completing a pass to fellow rookie David Gettis for no gain .