BEEBE, Ark. — If you go out to watch the Beebe Badgers on a Friday night, it’s impossible to miss number seven— because Jackson Edwards is a star on both sides of the ball.
The senior badger plays offense and defense hoping to cap his Beebe career with a season to remember.
“Every day that goes by is one day closer to the end so I want it to go slow," Jackson Edwards described.
Around Beebe, Jackson is known for his excellence on the field, being top five in his class, and for his family legacy.
“Just everybody that sees me says, you look familiar. Are you Tommy Edwards’s son? I get that a whole lot," he added.
25 years ago, it was Jackson’s dad who was making all the highlight plays on the very same field.
"I’m a generational badger. My grandfather was the first in our line to be a Beebe Badger when he graduated in 1956. There was no real other option. This is home," said Tommy Edwards.
Now lifelong badger fans can’t help but make comparisons to the 1999 Edwards vs the 2024 Edwards.
“He makes a play and I'd get a lot of [comments saying] I remember an old number 7 when he makes a play or runs the ball. [They tell me] he looks just like you," Tommy described.
However, Jackson isn't shy when it comes to competition with his dad saying.
"We always [about] argue who’s better. He’s going to say it’s him, but we all know it’s me," said Jackson.
Whether you’re team Tommy or team Jackson, one thing is for sure. Number seven Edwards is the talk of the town on Friday nights.
"In the stands they always give me arms radius and distance around me because they know I get a little excited," said Tommy.
“You want to stay with your family the whole time the way thorough, but you also want to make a name for yourself," Jackson described.