Lorenzo is a 220 pound safety at Edgewater High School in Orlando, Fla. that is
projected as a linebacker on the college level by Scout.com. He is getting his
first taste of linebacker during practice at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl
practice this week, and he is taking to it like a duck to water, proving he is
worthy of the No. 1 spot at weakside linebacker.
"It's going great," said Edwards. "I'm catching on a lot. Our
coach is great. He puts things in basics to where we understand, because he
knows a couple of us, I and Aaron Nagel played safety back at our high school,
so he's putting it in simple terms that we'll understand."
Edwards has played several positions in high school. He's a pure football player
that will take to some things at the position more naturally than others. What
does he feel he is already doing well, and what does he need to work on?
"Naturally, I'm taking to filling in the holes, and I need to work on some
of my reads still."
Edwards has already made a decision on where he will go to school in the fall,
and he will announce it at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl Saturday at Noon. He
made a decision between Notre Dame, Florida, Michigan, Clemson, and Georgia Tech.
There's a strong possibility that he's playing with a future teammate this week.
Who has been working him the hardest?
"Gary Gray (Notre Dame), Torrey Davis (Florida), and Willy Korn (Clemson).
Those are the guys that have been working on me the most," said Edwards
with a laugh.
With offers from all over the country, how did Edwards make a decision?
"Me and my family sat down, and we discussed it. My family knows me better
than anyone else, let alone myself, they know where I fit in. I also prayed
about my decision and my choice, and it sat right in my heart. It was the
comfort level at the school, and the comfort level with the academic staff that
I met also, and basically my family."
Arguably the best part of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl is the relationships
that the players form with each other.
"I'm rooming with Major Wright out here. We re-cap on every day. We talked
about things that worked good today, and things we need to work on together.
It's always positive talk between us."
Who are some of the players that have stood out to him so far on offense that
he's worked against?
"Deonte Thompson. That guy can get out of there. Chris Rainey can really
hit the corner, and Noel is just elusive... like crazy," Edwards said with
a laugh.
Which of his teammates on defense have stood out?
"The whole defensive line. I know the linebackers are going to make plays:
Allen Bailey, I call him granddaddy. The whole secondary is going to make plays
too."
Not wanting to let him off the hook that easily, I asked him to name two
defensive linemen and two players in the secondary that people should watch on
Saturday.
"Marvin Austin and Barksdale, and Major Wright and Marcus Gilchrist."
A question that I ask all of the All-Americans through the week is - You have
the first pick in the draft. You get to take one player with you to school. Who
do you pick?
"Major Wright."
Scott Kennedy's Take - I've always thought that this was a battle between
Notre Dame and Florida, and I still believe that. While Edwards has made a
decision, I've never pressed him for it, and honestly don't know what he's going
to do. Florida and Notre Dame beat writers both have told me this week they feel
good about their chances with him, but we'll know for sure in just a few short
days.
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