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Cornerback/returner Mike Edwards has scheduled a Wednesday news conference to announce whether he will return to the Hawaii football team for his senior season.
Edwards has said several times he expected to play for the Warriors in 2013, but that he wanted to go through "the process." That meant seeking a draft projection from a panel of NFL officials.
Edwards said he received a draft projection that "was better than expected."
He declined to specify the projected rounds.
The positive feedback and his choice of Cleveland as the site of the news conference would seem to indicate he plans to apply for the 2013 NFL Draft. Edwards, who was raised in Cleveland, is spending the winter break there. He is a single father of two sons.
Edwards, who started his collegiate career at Tennessee, joined the Warriors in July 2011. He played most of his first UH season with a ligament tear in his left shoulder that required surgery.
He had a breakout season in 2012 as a shut-down corner and kickoff returner.
He is 12th nationally with 1.43 pass breakups per game, despite opponents not throwing in his direction in five of UH’s 12 games.
Edwards is sixth nationally in kickoff returns with a 30.38-yard average.
Edwards was named the Warriors’ most valuable player at the team’s awards luau in December.
Edwards was named to the College Sports Madness All-America first team and was on CBSsports.com’s third team.
He also was named the Mountain West’s special teams player of the year for 2012.
Tony Grimes and Ne’Quan Phillips started games at cornerback last year. Wide receiver Chris Gant has been used on kickoff returns.