Liberia-Born Gus Edwards Is Becoming the Ravens’ Secret Weapon on Offense
In a Ravens offense full of Pro Bowlers, Gus Edward is the team’s secret weapon.
Edwards doesn’t yet have the star power of quarterback Lamar Jackson or the tenure of fellow running back Mark Ingram. But football fans need to pay closer attention to Edwards, the Liberia-born weapon and the key to the Baltimore Ravens‘ Super Bowl hopes.
Gus Edwards played college football after moving from Liberia
Both Rutgers and the NFL have been untruthful about Gus Edwards.
Rutgers listed Edwards’ hometown as Staten Island, N.Y. The NFL doesn’t list a hometown for Edwards.
The Staten Island part is true, but only from a certain point of view. Edwards was actually born in Liberia, an African country.
In a 2019 interview with “The Lounge,” a Ravens podcast, Edwards said he moved to America when he was 5 years old. His father and sister already lived in New York at the time.
Edwards admitted he didn’t have many memories of Liberia, save the day he left.
“I remember while I was taking the pictures, I was being very humble about it. Like I was excited but in all the pictures, I look like I’m sad that I’m leaving, but I was so happy that I was leaving. … I was so pumped but I wasn’t showing it because I felt like everybody else [wanted] to go to America.”
Edwards has lived in America for nearly 20 years.
Originally, Edwards played at the University of Miami, where he ran for 977 yards and 12 touchdowns from 2013-16. After transferring to Rutgers in 2017, Edwards totaled 713 rushing yards and six touchdowns in his lone year with the Scarlet Knights.
Edwards also caught 13 passes for 103 yards and a touchdown.
Edwards joined the Ravens in 2018
Undrafted in 2018, Gus Edwards signed with the Baltimore Ravens. That proved to be the right move for all parties.
Edwards played in 11 games as a rookie and ran for 718 yards and two touchdowns on 5.2 yards per carry. Although Edwards only drew the start in one game last year, his overall numbers were extremely similar. Edwards had 711 yards and two touchdowns on 5.3 yards per carry for a dominant Ravens offense in 2019.
Edwards also had a 19-yard run in the Ravens’ AFC divisional-round loss to Tennessee.
Gus Edwards is the Ravens’ secret weapon on offense
The football world is familiar with most of Baltimore’s offensive playmakers.
Lamar Jackson is the reigning MVP and one of the game’s top young talents. Veteran running back Mark Ingram is a Heisman Trophy winner and a productive player.
Tight end Mark Andrews is already one of the best players at his position. Even rookie running back J.K. Dobbins had a terrific career at Ohio State. Gus Edwards is none of those players, and that’s alright.
What makes Edwards so dangerous is how unknown he is and the fact Baltimore can use him without any notice. Edwards ran for 73 yards on 10 carries in a Week 2 victory over the Texans.
Baltimore has such a deep offense that Edwards can earn four carries or 14 carries in any given week.
It’s time to learn Gus Edwards’ name because if Baltimore makes the Super Bowl this year, the third-year running back will be a major reason why.
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