Tuesday, August 20, 2002 Updated: August 22, 2:01 PM ET
Leading Men
By By Gene Wojciechowski
It's like having a coach in the huddle, only a lot less awkward.
Three or four times a week, Georgia senior WR Terrence Edwards answers a knock on the door of his off-campus house to find sophomore SE Fred Gibson. What happens next is routine: Gibson beats Edwards in pool ... and Edwards teaches Gibson about football. "He's on top of everything," says Gibson, a member of the SEC's All-Freshman team and one of the most exciting players in the nation.
From the pool table to the gridiron -- Edwards rules.
Gibson gets the pub, but Edwards is the guy who'll almost certainly become the Dawgs' career leader in receptions, receiving yardage, TD catches and mentoring sessions. He'd give the G off his helmet to help Georgia win its first SEC title since 1982. "I don't have to be the leader of the team," he says.
Too late. Gibson looks up to him, as do the rest of the Dawgs. When Gibson struggled with routes, reads and responsibilities last fall, it was Edwards who worked with him on the tiniest of details, such as how to run a five-yard slant. And it was Edwards who gave scouting reports on DBs, who battled double-teams without complaint, who seamlessly moved from wide receiver to flanker during spring ball, who was named Most Improved Receiver by his coaches at the end of spring drills. Who, in short, is a coach in pads.
Mario Haggan, Mississippi St. Sr. MLB
Misplaced at DE, he's at home chatting it up in the middle
Keenan Howry, Oregon Sr. WR
His love for practice is infectious. Ask budding star Samie Parker
Byron Leftwich, Marshall Sr. QB
He calls 80% of plays. Team wanted him as O-coordinator
Cory Redding, Texas Sr. DE
Mr. Intensity is the bell cow for young Longhorn D-linemen
