The Oklahoman’s Super 30: Why Witt Edwards is Wagoner's next great two-sport star
WAGONER — In some ways, Witt Edwards’ story follows a familiar arc.
A gritty, adrenaline-chasing wrestler from the eastern Oklahoma town of Wagoner is excelling on the football field.
It's a growing trend in Wagoner, and most notably, linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez used this approach to rise to Oklahoma State and Detroit Lions fame.
Although Edwards draws inspiration from the hometown legends before him, none have taken his exact path with his skill set.
For starters, he is nearly 6-foot-6, towering above many fellow wrestlers.
And he has tons of Division I football offers.
“I don’t know how many people we know that (are) his height that wrestle, they rodeo, and then (they have a) football career,” Wagoner football coach Dale Condict said. “He’s a big personality. He has a magnetic personality with his teammates, and when he wants to get them going, he really can. I think the sky's the limit for him."
Ranked No. 9 on The Oklahoman’s Super 30 list of the state’s best prospects in the 2024 class, Edwards possesses many qualities that intrigue Division I coaches.
More: The Oklahoman's Super 30: Why Norman North's Harrison Utley chose Kansas over OU
With his long, wiry frame and football savvy, he can fit nearly anywhere on the field. Some schools are recruiting him at receiver or tight end. Other coaches see him as an outside linebacker or edge rusher. Still, others have told him it doesn’t matter what position he plays as long as he joins their program, Condict said.
A spirited teenager with a penchant for adventure, Edwards has relied on versatility throughout his life, from traveling on rodeo circuits to making a momentum-shifting catch that helped his football team win last year’s Class 4A state championship.
His eclectic pursuits are all connected to his lessons from the mat.
“Wrestling just helps you with everything,” Edwards said.
After building a colossal list of football offers, Edwards has narrowed it to eight: Central Arkansas, Houston, Iowa State, Oklahoma State, TCU, Tennessee, Tulsa and Vanderbilt. Many recruiters have shown interest in his wrestling background, even mentioning it to Condict.
The Wagoner coach understands why.
“(Wrestlers) really have a knack for being able to tackle,” Condict said. “They have a very good awareness of body control, and they usually have strong hands. If they get a hand on you, they’ll get you to the ground.
"They also come with a mental toughness I think that you don’t see in all players, so we’ve had a great relationship between our wrestling program and football.”
It helps that the wrestling coach is Edwards’ father.
Brian Edwards, a former Oklahoma State wrestler, taught his son about his sport before Witt was old enough to try football. He learned quickly, Brian said, and Witt’s talents grew as he did.
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This year at state, he placed third in the 215-pound weight class. Along with building his physical agility, Edwards’ wrestling feats have shaped his mentality.
“That just shows you how tough you can be,” Edwards said, “because wrestling is not easy at all.”
And he craves a good challenge.
Condict can tell. He has seen videos of Edwards on horseback competing in rodeos, a passion he picked up when his family lived in Pawhuska. As a kid, Edwards was serious about it, winning several trophy saddles and even taking online classes to accommodate his travel schedule.
These days, Condict tries to keep Edwards out of the rodeo arena so he can avoid injuries.
“I watch that, and I cringe,” Condict said, laughing. “It looks dangerous to me.”
Although Edwards hasn’t lost his maverick spirit, he said he is concentrating on staying healthy, knowing his football dreams are now front and center.
In high school, Edwards has unfinished business. Entering his senior year, he is chasing the school record for most receptions in a season, a mark Gabe Rodriguez — the younger brother of Malcom Rodriguez — set with 63. The Bulldogs are also striving to repeat as state champions.
At the same time, Edwards is designing his future, looking to select one school from his top eight. He said he wants to commit before his season kicks off in September.
With Edwards’ recruitment picking up, Condict said he has noticed a change in the Wagoner star. From the weight room to the classroom, Edwards is approaching his responsibilities with more intensity, propelling himself toward a greater goal.
More: The Oklahoman's Super 30: How Choctaw's Will Smith overcame the odds, became top recruit
“I really don’t believe we’ve even scratched the surface of his potential,” Condict said. “I know he made some big plays for us last year, but I think he’s such a talented guy, we still haven’t seen anywhere near what he’s capable of.”
He has given enough hints to capture the attention of many college coaches.
While Wagoner recruits such as Malcolm Rodriguez were largely overlooked in high school, Edwards is not flying under the radar. Eyes are turning toward him. Football fan bases have a reason to believe in Wagoner wrestlers, and Edwards is putting his own spin on that story.
His parents are watching it happen. After shaping the wrestling background that has boosted his son in football, Brian is relishing the chance to shift from coach to fan.
“That’s a good spot to be in,” Brian said, “just to enjoy the ride of it and guide him when we can, but this is his journey. It’s been good just to sit back and see all of it.”
The Oklahoman’s 2024 Super 30
Name: Witt Edwards
School: Wagoner
Super 30 ranking: No. 9
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 205 pounds
Position: Wide receiver/tight end/linebacker
Recruited by: Butler, Central Arkansas, Colorado State, Houston, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Mississippi State, North Texas, Oklahoma State, TCU, Tennessee, Texas State, Tulsa, UNLV
About the series
The Oklahoman’s Super 30 feature series will spotlight each high school football player on the Super 30 recruit rankings for the 2024 class. The series continued Monday with No. 9, Witt Edwards of Wagoner. See No. 8 on the list on Tuesday. Here are the last five players featured.
No. 13: Josh Ford, TE, Stillwater
No. 12: Rodney Fields Jr., RB, Del City
No. 11: Bergin Kysar, DL, Edmond Santa Fe
No. 10: Will Smith, DL/LB/TE, Choctaw
No. 9: Witt Edwards, WR/TE/LB, Wagoner
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma HS football: Witt Edwards, Wagoner recruiting profile
