 Edwards Jr. in 2024 | |
| North Carolina Tar Heels | |
|---|---|
| Position | Quarterback |
| Class |  Senior |
| Personal information | |
| Born | January 11, 2003 |
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
| Weight | 219 lb (99 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Lake Braddock (Burke, Virginia) |
| College |
|
| Awards and highlights | |
| |
| Stats at ESPN | |
Billy Edwards Jr. (born January 11, 2003) is an American college football quarterback for the North Carolina Tar Heels. He previously played for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, Maryland Terrapins and Wisconsin Badgers.
Edwards grew up in Springfield, Virginia, and attended Lake Braddock Secondary School. He was rated as a three-star recruit and committed to play college football for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. [1]
Edwards took a redshirt season in 2021. [2] After the conclusion of the season, Edwards entered the NCAA transfer portal. [3]
Edwards transferred to play for the Maryland Terrapins. [4] In week 7 of the 2022 season, he replaced injured starter Taulia Tagovailoa and led the Terrapins on a game-winning touchdown drive as he punched in a rushing touchdown to help Maryland beat Indiana 38-33. [5] In his first collegiate start in 2022, Edwards completed 18 of 28 passes for 166 yards and a touchdown while also adding 66 yards on the ground in a win over Northwestern. [6] Edwards finished the 2022 season by completing 28 of his 46 passing attempts for 313 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions while also rushing 34 times for 136 yards and a touchdown. [7]
With Tagovailoa opting out, Edwards was announced as the team's starting quarterback for the 2023 Music City Bowl. [8] In the team's Bowl Game, Edwards threw and ran for a touchdown in a 31–13 win over Auburn and was named the bowl's MVP. [9] Edwards finished the 2023 season going ten for 30 passing for 128 yards and a touchdown with one interception, while also adding 91 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground. [7]
Edwards entered the 2024 season as the starting quarterback. [10]
On December 16, 2024, Edwards announced he was transferring to the Wisconsin Badgers. [11]
In the Badgers' opening game of the 2025 season against Miami (OH), Edwards suffered a left knee injury that ruled him out of the Badgers' next two games. [12] He briefly returned to face his old team, Maryland, but exited after completing one offensive series. [13] Edwards would not play in any games for the rest of the season, claiming the injury was a Grade 3 PCL Sprain. [14]
Following the season, on December 29, 2025, Edwards announced he would be entering the transfer portal after being granted a medical redshirt and sixth season of eligibility. [15]
| Season | Team | Games | Passing | Rushing | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Record | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Y/A | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | ||
| 2021 | Wake Forest | 0 | 0 | — | Redshirted | |||||||||||
| 2022 | Maryland | 7 | 2 | 2–0 | 28 | 46 | 60.9 | 313 | 6.8 | 3 | 0 | 139.5 | 34 | 136 | 4.0 | 1 |
| 2023 | Maryland | 8 | 1 | 1–0 | 10 | 30 | 33.3 | 128 | 4.3 | 1 | 1 | 73.5 | 29 | 91 | 3.1 | 7 |
| 2024 | Maryland | 11 | 11 | 4–7 | 273 | 420 | 65.0 | 2,881 | 6.9 | 15 | 9 | 130.1 | 81 | 148 | 1.8 | 5 |
| 2025 | Wisconsin | 2 | 2 | 1–1 | 7 | 16 | 43.8 | 113 | 7.1 | 0 | 0 | 103.1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
| Career | 28 | 16 | 8−8 | 318 | 512 | 62.1 | 3,435 | 6.7 | 19 | 10 | 126.8 | 144 | 375 | 2.6 | 13 | |
Edwards is the son of Billy Sr. and Elizabeth Edwards. [16] Edwards is a Christian. [17]