BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Samford safety Chris Edmonds was named a preseason All-American by Athlon when the publication released its preseason FCS All-America teams Tuesday morning.
 
Edmonds is coming off a stellar season in the spring 2021 campaign. At the conclusion of the season, Edmonds was named first team All-American by multiple sources. He was also named first team All-SoCon by both the coaches and media, and he was tabbed as a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, which goes to the top defensive player in all of FCS football.
 
Edmonds led the Southern Conference and tied for third in the nation in total interceptions with four. He also led the league and tied for 13^th in the nation in interceptions per game, averaging 0.6 picks per contest.
 
He was involved in forcing six turnovers in Samford's first four games of the seven-game spring season. Edmonds forced a fumble and recovered it at ETSU. He then had an interception against Western Carolina, two interceptions at Furman, and an interception and a forced fumble against Wofford. One of his two interceptions at Furman was returned for a 45-yard touchdown.
 
Edmonds ranked third on the team in total tackles with 40, including 24 solo stops. He also had 2.5 tackles for loss, and he had one pass break-up for the season. Edmonds tallied one forced fumble and one fumble recovery as well.
 
Edmonds was named the SoCon Defensive Player of the Week twice (Mar. 8 and Mar. 15), and he was tabbed as the league's Defensive Player of the Month for March.
 
Samford opens the 2021 fall season with a home game against Tennessee Tech on Thursday, Sept. 2, at Seibert Stadium.
 
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