Kalimba Edwards
Encyclopedia
Kalimba Edwards is an American football
defensive end
who is currently a free agent
. He was originally drafted by the Detroit Lions
in the second round of the 2002 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at South Carolina
.
Edwards has also played for the Oakland Raiders
.
. During his sophomore year he started every game at defensive end
, recording 64 tackles
and five sacks
, earning an All-American selection. During his junior year he moved to linebacker
and finished third on the team in tackles with 74 and tied for the lead in sacks with seven. He also earned All-American third-team selection by the Associated Press
and was a consensus All-Southeastern Conference
first-team choice. During his senior year he played both linebacker and defensive end and was a semifinalist for both the Lombardi Trophy
and Butkus Award after finishing the season with 79 tackles and 3.5 sacks. He also earned an All-SEC first-team selection during his senior year.
in the second round of the 2002 NFL Draft
. During his rookie year he played in all 16 games and led the team in sacks with 6.5. In 2005 he led the Lions in sacks for the second time with seven. The Lions released him on March 13, 2008. He finished his career with the Lions with 160 tackles and 26 sacks.
to a two-year, $5 million contract.
On February 20, 2009, Edwards was released by the Raiders. He finished his only season with the team starting 11 of 14 games, recording 48 tackles and five sacks.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
who is currently a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He was originally drafted by the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
in the second round of the 2002 NFL Draft
2002 NFL Draft
The 2002 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted annually since 1936. The draft took place April 20–21, 2002 at the theater at...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at South Carolina
South Carolina Gamecocks football
The South Carolina Gamecocks football team represents the University of South Carolina in NCAA Division I college football. The Gamecocks have been a member of the Southeastern Conference since 1992. Steve Spurrier is the current head coach, and the team plays its home games at Williams-Brice...
.
Edwards has also played for the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
College career
Edwards played college football at South CarolinaSouth Carolina Gamecocks football
The South Carolina Gamecocks football team represents the University of South Carolina in NCAA Division I college football. The Gamecocks have been a member of the Southeastern Conference since 1992. Steve Spurrier is the current head coach, and the team plays its home games at Williams-Brice...
. During his sophomore year he started every game at defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
, recording 64 tackles
Tackle (football move)
Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend....
and five sacks
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
, earning an All-American selection. During his junior year he moved to linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
and finished third on the team in tackles with 74 and tied for the lead in sacks with seven. He also earned All-American third-team selection by the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
and was a consensus All-Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
first-team choice. During his senior year he played both linebacker and defensive end and was a semifinalist for both the Lombardi Trophy
Lombardi Trophy
Lombardi Trophy may refer to:*Vince Lombardi Trophy, awarded to the winning team of the Super Bowl*Lombardi Award, an annual award to the best college football lineman or linebacker...
and Butkus Award after finishing the season with 79 tackles and 3.5 sacks. He also earned an All-SEC first-team selection during his senior year.
Detroit Lions
Edwards was drafted by the Detroit LionsDetroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
in the second round of the 2002 NFL Draft
2002 NFL Draft
The 2002 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted annually since 1936. The draft took place April 20–21, 2002 at the theater at...
. During his rookie year he played in all 16 games and led the team in sacks with 6.5. In 2005 he led the Lions in sacks for the second time with seven. The Lions released him on March 13, 2008. He finished his career with the Lions with 160 tackles and 26 sacks.
Oakland Raiders
On March 28, 2008 Edwards was signed by the Oakland RaidersOakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
to a two-year, $5 million contract.
On February 20, 2009, Edwards was released by the Raiders. He finished his only season with the team starting 11 of 14 games, recording 48 tackles and five sacks.