Eagles RB Corey Clement and rookie TJ Edwards have much in common

Is anybody else wondering if Philadelphia Eagles running back Corey Clement and rookie free agent linebacker TJ Edwards have spoken already?

When Corey Clement and TJ Edwards are both old and gray, they’ll tell their NFL stories to their grandchildren, but both of them will have to tell that story without one aspect. Both attended Wisconsin University and played for the Badgers. Both wound up with the Philadelphia Eagles. There’s just one thing.

Neither Clement or Edwards heard their name called on draft day.

After 42 games played at the collegiate level, Clement entered the 2017 NFL Draft with hopes that he’d be selected. After all, he had just racked up 3,092 career rushing yards, 279 yards through the air, 36 career rushing touchdowns, and two receiving touchdowns.

Seven rounds went by, Clement became an undrafted free agent, and was signed by the Eagles. What did he do? He worked his butt off, made the team, and was a key component of Philly’s march to the team’s first Super Bowl win in team history.

Heck, he’s even part of some of the biggest highlights of that night. Not only did he take the snap from center during the ‘Philly Special’ and toss it to that play’s quarterback, Trey Burton. He also took a swing pass from Nick Foles at about midfield a few plays earlier and galloped into the red zone to set up first and goal as the first half was winding down.

Come on. Don’t tell us you forgot about the stiff arm on that play.

The second half provided another memory as Clement snagged a third quarter 22-yard touchdown pass from Foles over two defenders. That one might be a little hazy. Fortunately, we have video to verify.

Clip courtesy of the NFL’s official YouTube channel

Clement’s now one of the leaders of the team’s running backs. He’s the longest-tenured tailback on the team now, next to Wendell Smallwood, and he figures to be in Philly’s long-term plans as they move ahead.

Hopefully, he’s talked to another former Wisconsin standout who joins the team as an undrafted free agent, linebacker TJ Edwards. The two were teammates from 2014 to 2016. Edwards was a redshirt freshman in 2014.

From 2015 to 2018, he appeared in 53 games with 52 starts, racking up 367 total tackles (215 were solo and 37.5 resulted in a loss), eight sacks, ten interceptions, 25 passes defensed, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

Following his final season in Madison, Edwards earned Second team All-Big Ten honors to go along with First-team All-American and First-team All-Big Ten honors in 2017 and FWAA Freshman All-American honors in 2015.

Wait. Are we sure this guy went undrafted? Some actually had him going anywhere between the fifth and seventh rounds. We gave him honorable mention when we named the top-ten inside linebackers heading into the draft.

Knowing that Philly got him post draft should get you excited. We’ve all been asking for a linebacker, and though it’s too early to construct a 53-man roster, we can say Edwards has as good a shot as anyone to make this team.

They may have found a jewel out of Madison. It worked out pretty well the last time we thought the same thing.