Florida State's Mario Edwards, Jr. First Showed Glimpse of Talent vs. GT

Mario Edwards, Jr. arrived on campus before the 2012 season overweight. The nation's top defensive end prospect had eaten his way out of potential playing time and it appeared a possibility that he would redshirt.

And then All-American Brandon Jenkins was lost for the season in Week 1 with a foot injury. While trying to slim down, Edwards would see some playing time as a reserve. But then another defensive end, Tank Carradine, suffered a torn ACL in the final regular-season game.

Edwards had his chance to not just play but start in the ACC championship game against Georgia Tech.

"That was my coming out game," Edwards said. "For me to do it in college was definitely big. I came in overweight, and for me to get my weight down and then go out and have a good game was definitely a confidence boost for me."

Edwards had seven tackles that day, helping limit Georgia Tech's triple-option offense to 183 yards on 52 carries. FSU needed a run-stopping defensive end, a player who would "set the edge" and not let any Yellow Jackets run wide and find green grass.

He did just that in his first start. It was something he had done on Friday nights but never in college.

Mark Wallheiser/Associated Press

"He played one heck of a football game for us," FSU coach Jimbo Fisher said. "You saw the potential and what he could be. To go out and perform like he did, in that game, was huge. And I think it really kicked his career off."

Now a redshirt junior, Edwards has developed into an All-ACC defensive lineman. He has 41 tackles and 11 tackles for loss going into Saturday's ACC title game against Georgia Tech.

The Yellow Jackets' triple-option offense is tricky, featuring far too many potential ball carriers for a defensive player to watch in the moments after a snap.

"You have four people in the backfield that can touch the ball at any given time and it's all tricks," Edwards said. "There are so many things you can do. If you're not assignment-sound or reading your keys, it will mess you up."

Current Georgia Tech quarterback Justin Thomas didn't play in the 2012 game against FSU. But Thomas has run for 861 yards and five touchdowns this season, leading the Yellow Jackets in rushing when he's not handing the ball off.

"He's shifty," Edwards said. "He's a real fast quarterback. He does good with faking it and then pitching it. You will guess that he's doing something and he'll make you pay for it."

Bob Ferrante is the lead FSU writer for Bleacher Report. All quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow Bob on Twitter. Stats courtesy of seminoles.com, ramblinwreck.com or FSU game notes.