Cam Edwards Showed Up for UConn - Now It’s Time UConn Shows Up for Him
BOSTON - On a cold afternoon at Fenway Park, with snow in the air and uncertainty swirling around UConn football, one thing stood out above the rest: Cam Edwards played. And not just in the literal sense - he showed up, in every way that matters.
In a college football world that’s increasingly transactional, where bowl games often feel more like opt-out exhibitions than season finales, Edwards made a decision that cut against the grain. While several of his teammates made the understandable choice to sit out the Fenway Bowl - some prepping for the NFL Draft, others weighing transfer offers - Edwards strapped on his pads and gave UConn everything he had one last time.
And it wasn’t just a symbolic gesture. The junior running back from Norwalk delivered a performance that reminded everyone why he’s the heart of this Huskies team.
Edwards carried the ball 11 times for 108 yards, including a 34-yard burst on his very first touch and a 12-yard touchdown on his second. That was UConn’s only trip to the end zone all day, and for a brief moment, it looked like the Huskies might ride his energy to something more.
But the reality was harsher. Army rolled to a 41-16 win, and UConn, missing key starters and led by a patchwork coaching staff, couldn’t keep up. The Fenway Bowl quickly turned from opportunity to obligation, and the Huskies were left exposed - a team in transition, held together by little more than pride and a few willing bodies.
Still, Edwards’ presence meant something. In a game that could’ve been a complete wash, he gave fans a reason to care.
He gave his teammates a reason to rally. And he gave the program a reason to fight to keep him.
“Ever since I entered the portal, I told the guys, ‘I’m going to play this game,’” Edwards said. “It was right for me to go out and play one last game with my brothers. That was my ‘why.’”
That kind of commitment is rare these days, and it deserves to be rewarded. Edwards has already announced his intention to enter the transfer portal when it reopens after New Year’s.
And he should. He’s earned the right to explore every opportunity - whether that’s a Power 4 program with a bigger stage, or a reunion with former UConn coaches now at Colorado State and TCU.
But if UConn has any shot at keeping the face of its program, it starts with making a serious NIL offer. Not a symbolic one. A real, competitive package that reflects what Edwards means to this team and what he could mean moving forward.
Because make no mistake - this isn’t just about loyalty or sentiment. Edwards is that dude.
He finished the season with 1,240 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns. He’s a 5-foot-11, 210-pound blend of power and speed who can anchor an offense.
He’s also a local product and former Connecticut high school star, which makes him the perfect bridge to the next era under new head coach Jason Candle, who watched Saturday’s game from a suite at Fenway.
Candle has a lot on his plate, but priority No. 1 should be keeping Edwards in a UConn uniform. He’s the kind of player you build around - not just because of the stats, but because of the standard he sets.
“He’s a talented guy,” said offensive coordinator Gordon Sammis, who served as interim head coach for the bowl game. “But it’s his sheer force of will that makes us go.”
That willpower was on full display Saturday. With freshman quarterback Ksaan Ferrar making his first real appearance and the passing game virtually nonexistent, Edwards carried the offense on his back. He ran through contact, created space where there was none, and gave UConn fans something to cheer about - even if it was fleeting.
Meanwhile, the rest of the game played out like a reminder of how fragile bowl season has become. UConn was missing its starting quarterback Joe Fagnano, who opted out for the draft.
Backup Nick Evers wasn’t available either. Star receiver Skyler Bell suited up and played one series before calling it a day.
Most of the coaching staff had already accepted jobs elsewhere. The defense held up for a while, but poor tackling in the second half allowed Army to pull away.
It wasn’t the 2024 Huskies. It wasn’t the 2025 version either. It was a skeleton crew, anchored by one player who refused to mail it in.
That’s why Cam Edwards matters. Not just because he’s good - he is - but because he showed what it means to lead.
He didn’t have to play. Plenty of people told him not to.
But he made a promise to his teammates, and he kept it.
“Me being a Connecticut guy, it was really the culture that was built here - guys come in ready to fight,” Edwards said. “Things happen, but the sky’s the limit for UConn football. UConn football is back.”
Whether or not that’s true depends on what happens next. The reality is, UConn doesn’t have the same resources as the big-name programs.
But that doesn’t mean they can’t make a competitive NIL offer. Edwards has said he’s “absolutely” open to staying in his home state.
If the program wants to keep him, now’s the time to act.
There isn’t an offensive system in the country that couldn’t use a back like Cam Edwards. And if UConn wants to prove it’s serious about building something sustainable, it starts by investing in the players who’ve already invested in them.
Because bowl games might not mean what they used to. But leadership?
Commitment? Loyalty?
That still counts for something.
And Cam Edwards just proved it.