Every year, roughly 1,000,000 high school athletes compete in football, many of them dreaming to play at the collegiate level. For Huntington Beach High School quarterback Brady Edmunds, that dream is closer to reality than ever.
The Oilers quarterback has amassed 21 Division 1 scholarship offers to date, many of them from national powerhouses such as the University of Michigan and University of Washington, the reigning National College Football Champions and runner up respectively. What’s especially astounding is that Edmunds accomplished this after only his freshman year — not to mention he only started playing quarterback during his eighth grade year.
“This whole experience has just been surreal,” Edmunds said. “It’s really only in the last few months that my recruiting process has started to pick up.”
Edmunds started playing flag football when he was in kindergarten and tackle football by fifth grade. Back then, he was on the receiving end of touchdown passes as a tight end, but football was not his primary focus. That belonged to basketball.
Growing up, Edmunds’ father coached varsity basketball at Marina High School and Fountain Valley High school, so naturally he was drawn to the sport. However, after his father stopped coaching, football became Edmunds’ main priority.
He had come to love the defining warlike aspects of football that are unique to a sport that not only allows, but encourages big hits and tackles.
“Just going to battle with these dudes, there’s nothing like it,” Edmunds said.
When he told his parents he wanted to start getting serious about switching to football and playing quarterback, they warned him he would have to train harder than every other quarterback in the country, and then some. In terms of quarterback experience, Edmunds was years behind the athletes that grew up playing in youth tackle football leagues in the fall and on non-contact 7-on-7 teams in the spring.
Rigorous training with different coaches and natural talent helped make up for this lost time, so by the summer before his freshman year, Edmunds knew he would have a chance to start for the Oilers. His physical talent and presence was obvious, standing at 6’5″ and 215 pounds, but what remained to be seen were his leadership skills. Quarterbacks in the NFL are viewed as the face of the franchise, and while it’s not quite the same in high school, the quarterback is still counted on by players and coaches to lead his teammates.
As a 15-year-old in a locker room of 36 seniors, leading the older and more experienced players would prove a daunting task for anyone. Except for Edmunds.
“I know I have a good head on my shoulders, and I just knew I was going to have to lead by example,” Edmunds said.
And Edmunds did just that. As a freshman, he threw for over 2,500 yards, leading the state, and 24 touchdowns, all while maintaining a 3.87 GPA. After the football season, he immediately transitioned to basketball, where he committed to waking up at 4:45 am on school days in order to accommodate football strength training into his schedule. He attributes his unwavering dedication to the constant support he’s received from his family and coaches.
“What I love most about Brady is his work ethic and competitiveness,” Oilers Head Coach Brett Brown said. “Brady is very driven and is constantly working to be the best he can be. Not just for himself, but for his family, teammates and HBHS.”
College coaches across the nation seemed to agree after inviting Edmunds to various football camps, many of those resulting in official offers. As a lifelong Ohio State fan, the offer from Ohio State and Coach Ryan Day was particularly “emotional” for Edmunds and his family, but he knows “nothing is guaranteed.”
Among winning a CIF championship ring and passing for 3,500 yards, his primary goal for the upcoming season is to develop his leadership skills. After losing the 36 seniors from the prior season, Edmunds knows the team will be much younger, meaning more will be demanded of him as a leader and quarterback.
Despite these heightened expectations as now one of the top quarterbacks in the country, Edmunds isn’t worried and is solely focused on keeping his head down and continuing to improve in all facets.
“I don’t see it as a challenge,” Edmunds said. “I know I just have to keep working and things will fall into place.”
Edmunds will look to kick off his sophomore season on Aug. 23 against Orange High School.