He Wants to Receive Attention

This year’s Randy Moss can’t attract attention.

Like Moss last season at Marshall University, Troy Edwards is the most prolific receiver in college football. Unlike Moss, who was profiled in Sports Illustrated and finished fourth in Heisman voting, Louisiana Tech’s Edwards can’t get noticed.

“I’m not trying to be conceited, but my numbers are just unbelievable,” Edwards said. “You can’t ignore what I’ve done.”

He leads Division I-A in receiving yards, yards a game, touchdown receptions and scoring. He’s second in the nation in points a game to a Heisman favorite, Texas running back Ricky Williams. And while Edwards has piled up statistics against some unimpressive opponents, he caught 21 passes for an NCAA all-divisions record 405 yards--at Nebraska.

Edwards still can’t attract the attention of publications and Heisman voters. Moss, playing for the Thundering Herd in secluded Huntington, West Virginia, got noticed partially because of the off-field problems that got him kicked off Florida State and Notre Dame.

Moss finished fourth in Heisman voting behind winner Charles Woodson of the University of Michigan, second-place finisher Peyton Manning of the University of Tennessee and Ryan Leaf of Washington State.

Playing in rural Ruston, Louisiana, the 5-foot-10 Edwards hasn’t generated similar hype--even though he caught more passes for more yards than Moss last season, leading the nation in both categories.

“(Moss) had so much media even before he caught a pass because of the off-the-field stuff,” said Brian Welch, Louisiana Tech’s assistant sports information director. “If that stuff doesn’t happen, who knows whether he gets many votes for the Heisman.”

Entering this weekend, Edwards had 89 receptions for 1,421 yards, averaging 11 catches and almost 178 receiving yards a game. He leads the nation with 23 touchdowns, including two rushing scores and a punt return for a touchdown.

Lining up in Bulldogs coach Gary Crowton’s passing-oriented offense, Edwards likely will break Moss’s NCAA all-division season-record of 26 touchdown receptions.

Louisiana Tech, an independent, is 4-4 and No. 1 in NCAA Division I-A total offense, aided by lopsided wins over such opponents as Southwestern Louisiana, Northeast Louisiana and Boise State. Louisiana Tech will take on Tulane on Nov. 26.

“This kid can play with anyone,” said former UCLA coach Terry Donahue, a CBS college football analyst and a Heisman voter. “What he did against Nebraska was just amazing.”

Former Indiana University coach Lee Corso said Edwards has no chance for Heisman consideration, although Louisiana Tech has spent $2,000 promoting the receiver with flyers sent to potential Heisman voters.

Manning last season was an overwhelming preseason favorite to win the Heisman, prompting some voters to look for dark-horse candidates. This year’s favorites, UCLA quarterback Cade McNown, Kentucky quarterback Tim Couch and Texas’s Williams, have flourished, creating a three-way race.

“Randy Moss was a fad,” said Corso, a Heisman voter who is an ESPN analyst. “People were looking for some way to vote against Peyton Manning. That’s not going to happen this year. I don’t care what kind of numbers Troy Edwards puts up.”

Moss could help Edwards get a chance in the National Football League. A first-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings, Moss is the favorite for Rookie of the Year, quieting criticism of him coming from a small-time program.

Edwards is considered a potential first-round draft choice and likely second-round selection by some NFL scouts. While Edwards expects to be drafted high, he said he knows the Heisman is probably out of his reach.

“If I don’t get it, I’m not going to drop my head or anything like that,” Edwards said. “I still think I’m the best receiver out there.”