The most talented player on the field took a moment to survey the emptying Aloha Stadium stands. It was quite possibly a view Mike Edwards enjoyed for the last time.
Edwards wasn’t among the 14 Hawaii seniors saying goodbye after the 23-7 win over South Alabama. Yet he too might have played his last game in a UH uniform on Saturday night.
With the conclusion of the 2012 season, the talented cornerback and return man will weigh a decision between going out for the NFL Draft or a return for a senior season in Manoa.
"I just wanted to get through this last game," said Edwards, who intercepted a pass for the second straight game and forced a fumble. "Team comes first. Hawaii football came first for me all year, not myself. I just wanted to get through this last game, and now I can focus on Mike Edwards and the future of my life."
He plans to submit paperwork today for an initial NFL evaluation that will give him an early indication of where he might land.
Then, he said, he plans to confer with the UH coaches and sit down with his family over the winter break to decide his future.
Between his electric kick returns — three of which went back for touchdowns — and his playmaking in the secondary, the 5-foot-10, 180-pound Edwards built up quite the highlight package this year.
He finished the season with two picks, 43 tackles and 16 passes broken up.
"He’s done a really good job," defensive coordinator Thom Kaumeyer said. "Obviously, we’ll be wanting him to come back for his senior year. If that works out, that’ll be great. He can help us and keep going on his career. If he decides to go on, then he’ll be able to represent the University of Hawaii in a great place."
In a season chock full of electric Edwards returns, his teammates are hoping for one more.
"He’s probably our best coverage guy," sophomore defensive end Beau Yap said. "For the D-line, knowing that he’s back there … it would mean a lot to us to have him back one more year."
Said junior safety John Hardy-Tuliau: "He’s a great leader for our team and our defense. We’ve been playing together for a while now, two seasons. We have good chemistry. It’ll be great if he’s back."
Edwards, who hadn’t spoken to those particular teammates about which way he’d be leaning, seemed moved by their words of support.
"That sounds amazing, man," the Cleveland native said. "We’ve got an amazing team, an amazing culture. That’s why I chose to come to Hawaii (out of junior college) over some of the other top schools I had. I just love the people, the type of system (we’re) running. Just the coaches, and the whole Hawaii. I love it here. It’s going to be hard to leave this, but ultimately the decision has to be made for not only myself but my family also. I’m putting a lot of trust in God to help me make the best decision."
On Saturday, Edwards continued his playmaking, intercepting a pass on the Jaguars’ opening drive. Following his rip of Ross Metheny’s lob to the back right corner of the end zone, he lined up as a starting wide receiver and had one carry for 9 yards. With the defense’s effectiveness allowing just 166 yards of total offense, his kickoff return skills weren’t needed.
"I’ve just been happy to be blessed to help the team," Edwards said. "Anything I could do, whether it’s on defense, whether it’s on kick returns, whether it’s on offense. Whatever Coach (Norm) Chow wanted me to do to not only help the team, but help myself, I was willing to do it to put us in position to win a football game. That’s all I wanted to do."
