North Carolina Central University Athletics

Dovonte Edwards, who possesses five years of National Football League playing experience, joined the North Carolina Central University football staff as an assistant coach working with defensive backs in February 2019. In the spring of 2020, he added defensive pass game coordinator to his role. 

Prior to NCCU, Edwards spent two seasons at Morehead State University as defensive coordinator (2018)/co-special teams coordinator (2017), defensive backs coach and pro liaison.
 
Edwards played five years in the NFL for the Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants and Detroit Lions. He also played for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. In his rookie season in 2005, he returned one of Green Bay Packers’ quarterback Brett Favre’s passes for a touchdown on Monday Night Football.
 
Edwards played collegiately at North Carolina State University, where he initially lined up as a top wide receiver target for current San Diego Chargers’ quarterback Phillip Rivers. He later moved to cornerback during his final two seasons after recording starts on both offense and defense.
 
Edwards was named Most Outstanding Defensive Back and voted the Most Versatile Athlete following his senior season at NC State. He contributed as a wide receiver, defensive back, punt returner and also as a point guard for the Wolfpack basketball team. Following his career, he played in the Hula Bowl in Hawaii in 2005.
 
He has also served as a defensive analyst/quality control coach at Furman University (2016) in Greenville, S.C. Edwards worked with a defensive back unit that ranked third in the Southern Conference in pass defense.
 
Edwards was defensive backs and special teams coordinator at Kentucky Christian University in 2014, before being elevated to defensive coordinator in 2015. 
 
In 2014, KCU ranked in the NAIA top 10 in all major passing defense categories. Following the season, Edwards coached at the NAIA vs. D2 All-Star game.
 
In 2015, as the defensive coordinator, his linebacker Aaron Cooper won the Mid-South Conference Defensive Player of the Year and AFCA All-American accolades. The Knights ranked 10th nationally and led the conference in passing defense.
 
He began his coaching career at Northern Guilford (N.C.) High School in 2010, and helped the school win its first state championship.
 
Edwards earned his bachelor’s degree in parks, recreation and tourism management, with emphasis in sport management, from NC State in 2012. He has also participated in the NFL Scouting Academy, the NFL-NCAA Coaches Academy and the NFL Career Transition Program. 
 
Edwards also brings experience as a talent evaluator after shadowing long-time NFL Player Personnel Executive Rick Mueller during an injury-plagued 2011 season, and serving as a scouting assistant for Optimum Scouting from 2012-14.