Houston’s Patrick Edwards Named To Senior Bowl

(credit: Brett Deering/Getty Images)

University of Houston record-breaking wide receiver Patrick Edwards has accepted an invitation to play in the 63^rd annual Senior Bowl, held Jan. 28 in Mobile, Ala., at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. 

One of college football’s premier senior showcase events, the Senior Bowl annually features the nation’s best senior collegiate football stars and top NFL draft prospects on teams coached by NFL staffs. This year’s coaching staffs will be from the Minnesota Vikings and Washington Redskins. The game will be televised live on the NFL Network at 3 p.m. CT. 

“Patrick is very much deserving of this honor and I couldn’t be more happy for him and his family,” Head Coach Tony Levine said. “Patrick had an incredible senior season and just a remarkable career for us at Houston. He finished as the school’s all-time leader in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns and was a great leader throughout his career.” 

Edwardsbroke a host of records for the 13-1 Cougars this season en route to earning All-America and Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year recognition. The Hearne, Texas, native finished his career as one of college football’s most productive pass-catchers, making 282 receptions for 4,471 yards and 43 scores. This season he ranked among college football’s Top 15 in touchdown receptions (No. 1 with 20), receiving yards (No. 2 with 1,752), yards per catch (No. 6 at 19.7) and receptions (No. 15 with 89). Edwards ranked among college football’s leaders over the last decade with his 43 TD grabs (No. 4) and 4,471 receiving yards (No. 2). 

The Third Team All-American had eight games this season where he topped 100 yards receiving, including one game over 200 yards (228 vs. Penn State) and a career high 318-yard contest vs. Rice, which was the top receiving effort in college football this season. He added a career high five TD receptions in that Rice contest as well. His 228-yard, two-TD afternoon vs. Penn State in the 2012 TicketCity Bowl was the top receiving performance in Cotton Bowl Stadium history. 

Named the 2011 Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year, Edwards owns school and C-USA records for receiving yards (4.471) and career 100-yard games (17). He also boasts the UH record for career receiving scores (43) and is second in school history with at least one reception in 48 consecutive games (every game of his career). 

“I appreciate everyone at the Senior Bowl presenting me with this opportunity,” Edwards said. “I have seen this game on television and to have a chance to participate, is truly an incredible honor.” 

Edwards is the 30^th Cougar all-time selected to play in the Senior Bowl and is the first since fellow wide receiver, Donnie Avery, in 2008. Avery was later drafted No. 33 overall (Second Round) by the St. Louis Rams.