Texas Football: 3 players who nearly stole Heisman from Ricky Williams in 1998

While the Group of Five will always have some big stat producers that don’t get the love they deserve on the national scene, there was a real injustice during the 1998 season that goes without saying. The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs junior wideout Troy Edwards didn’t even finish in the top 10 of the Heisman voting during the 1998 season.

The only wide receiver to get in the top 10 of the final Heisman voting in 1998 was the NC State Wolfpack star Torry Holt. And he registered around 700 less total yards from scrimmage and more than 10 less touchdowns than Edwards. Clearly a Louisiana Tech team that went 6-6 in 1998 held Edwards back from the national recognition his insane production warranted.

In that magical 1998 season for Edwards, he tallied up 161 total touches for more than 2,200 yards and 31 total touchdowns. Of those more than 2,200 total yards from scrimmage, 1,701 were receiving. He led the nation in receptions (140), receiving yards, receiving touchdowns (27), and total touchdowns responsible for. One of Edwards’ total touchdowns came from a punt return.

The fact that Edwards wasn’t even a Heisman finalist is nothing short of robbery. A Group of Five receiver should’ve been given more respect. Not to say that he should’ve been the guaranteed Heisman winner, but one of the most dominant seasons in college football history by a wide receiver deserved way more recognition.

Edwards did receive the Biletnikoff Award and Consensus All-American honors from his efforts in 1998.