NAPPANEE – Jo’Ziah Edmond was not a stranger to northern Indiana when he and his parents moved to the area in December.
Edmond was born and raised in Michigan City before moving to Indianapolis in sixth grade. After three years of playing high school football at Warren Central, Edmond and his family moved back to the northern part of the state, with the two-way player enrolling at NorthWood.
Playing in a different environment, Edmond has thrived for the Panthers, becoming a key part of a team that will play for a Class 4A state championship against East Central Saturday afternoon at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
“It feels amazing,” said Edmond of advancing to the state finals. “Just knowing we went out every day in practice and worked hard, it shows a lot of mentality, toughness and just responsibility and trust overall. Getting to this stage is a really big moment for us and our community, and everybody’s happy for this moment for us. Hopefully we can go out there and get the job done.”
Edmond played football and baseball growing up, bonding with several athletes from the area. One relationship in particular came with Marshall Kmiecik, the starting quarterback for New Prairie the last three seasons. NorthWood defeated the Cougars, 38-14, in a regional championship game two weeks ago, and the two shared a long embrace after the game.
“Growing up, playing football with Marshall and travel baseball, just being with him every weekend and every day, being with his family just felt like a home to me,” Edmond said. “Just going through that was amazing.”
Edmond’s career numbers at Warren Central don’t jump off the page. In three years with the Warriors, he recorded 196 rushing yards and 171 receiving yards and two touchdowns, both coming on the ground. He played well on defense his junior season, recording 28 tackles and five interceptions.
With his parents still owning two businesses in the Michigan City area, the decision was made to move out of Indianapolis, giving Edmond a fresh start going into his senior season. Naturally, there was a learning curve going from the third-biggest high school in the state in an urbanized city like Indianapolis to a school with less than 900 kids in the more rural areas of Nappanee and Wakarusa.
“It was a different change for me and different environment, so I had to adapt to it and get used to it,” Edmond said. “I had to get around people that I would want myself to be around; hanging around good guys who are doing right in school, doing right off the field and on the field.”
One person on NorthWood that Edmond already knew was NiTareon Tuggle. The two connected at various football camps throughout the Midwest over the years, trying to get noticed by colleges.
Both shared similar recruiting journeys, as both held mostly lower Division-I offers following their junior seasons. In the spring, however, both skyrocketed up the recruiting ranks, with both impressing in showcase camps across the country.
Tuggle would eventually commit to Georgia in April, while Edmond initially committed to Purdue in June. Once Michigan offered in early August, though, Edmond flipped his commitment to the Wolverines.
“He’s like a brother to me,” said Edmond of Tuggle. “Just hanging out, talking to him every day is amazing.”
Along with Tuggle, Edmond cited seniors Kanye Tucker and Keith Miller as those he’s grown close with on the team.
“Last year, I didn’t know most of these guys on this team, but getting to know them throughout the season, it was amazing,” Edmond said. “There are some wonderful bonds that I’ve built here.”
As he’s grown more comfortable, Edmond’s performance has gotten better. Initially playing running back on offense, he was moved to wide receiver after the first four games. He’s thrived in the wideout position, recording 59 catches for 741 yards and seven touchdowns in 14 games so far.
His defensive play has been improved as well, as he has 53 tackles and five interceptions so far. Three of those picks have happened in the last two weeks, including two on his close friend Kmiecik.
“Just trust in my coaches,” Edmond said has been the key to success in recent weeks. “They’re putting me in the right spot, the right positions to make plays. Just staying with them, trusting what they’re doing and just getting the job done. Staying to my assignment helps a lot to where I’m able to make plays and be there whenever I can.”
As his play has improved, so has his recruiting ranking. After being ranked in the mid-600s nationally by the website 247 Sports at the start of the season, Edmond is now ranked 152nd by the site. He’s improved to a four-star prospect after being in the three-star range for the bulk of his recruiting process.
“I don’t let that give me a big head; I try to stay level, stay to my core values, not let the internet or social media get to my head,” said Edmond of the rankings. “I just have to play my game and do me while I’m out on the field and control what I can control.”
What Edmond must focus on now is an East Central team that is winning games by an average of 44 points this season. It has a talented wide receiver in senior Ryan Brotherton, who’s committed to Western Michigan University. Edmond will likely draw the defensive assignment on Brotherton, making it a battle between two D1-bound players all afternoon. “A win would mean a lot not just to us, but our community,” Edmond said. “Just bringing back that championship would mean a lot, so that’s what we plan on going out there and doing.”