If you are the starting quarterback at Lake Travis High School, history tells us you are really good. The Cavaliers' last 10 starting QBs have all signed Division 1 scholarships, with Bo Edmundson the most recent.
“To be a college football player at any level is very difficult,” said Lake Travis football coach Hank Carter. “To have 10 guys that have gone on to play Division 1 is incredible. I don’t know if it’s happened anywhere else. We joke around that this is 'Quarterback U' and Bo is another one of the list of the great ones we’ve had.”
With that much talent coming through the program at the QB position, it is hard to get playing time early at Lake Travis. However, Edmundson was the starter from game one of his sophomore season.
“I did get the opportunity to play early in my high school career,” said Edmundson. “I think that’s only happened a couple of times at Lake Travis football.”
That season, Edmundson helped Lake Travis go undefeated in the regular season, while throwing for 17 TDs to just two interceptions. He came back as the starter again in 2021, his junior season, and had an even better year. Edmundson threw for over 3,200 yards with 38 TD passes, all while helping Lake Travis reach the state semifinals in the playoffs. Coming off that year, Edmundson was primed for a huge senior season until his back started bothering him and a number of different issues came from that.
“Started with a back injury in the spring and winter and the more he used it, the worse it got,” said Carter. “It got to the point where he really couldn’t function to anywhere near the player he knew he was.”
For a while Edmundson tried to work through the pain and, in doing so, made some adjustments to his throwing motion to avoid his back bothering him. When he started to feel better, he then had to readjust the way he threw, and that created some issues as well. Through it all, he was just working to feel like he was back to himself.
“I don’t think I’ve ever done as much PT (physical therapy) as I did with the back,” said Edmundson. “It takes 1,000 times extra work. It’s showing up early in the morning to get some throws in. It’s staying late to get the throws in.”
As he continued to work his way back, the 2022 season began and Edmundson wasn’t ready to take the field. The star quarterback was now a supporter of his team from the sideline.
“It was super tough not being able to get on the field as much as I like,” said Edmundson. “Just keeping a smile on my face and trying to uplift the guys who need uplifting.”
“We felt very badly for Bo that he couldn’t be on the field with his teammates,” said Kevin Edmundson, Bo’s father. “But we watched him grow up and watched him become a better teammate.”
Edmundson was starting to get healthy but the mental toll on what this injury had done to him was also weighing heavily on his mind as the season continued.
“I think the biggest thing was getting over the mental block of it’s unfortunate to go through this my senior year of high school,” said Edmundson. “A lot of people experience difficult things later in life, but I had to go through it early in life. I think that will set me up for success in the future and keeping the mental aspect in control.”
Even through the tough times, Edmundson was there helping his team as much as he could during the season and even got into a few games to help Lake Travis on the field. The other thing that was weighing on his mind was his recruitment. Because he played so well as a sophomore and junior, Edmundson was one of the most sought after QBs in the country and he committed to Michigan State back in February 2022. However, things fell through with the Spartans and he was back looking for a school late in his senior year.
“It took a lot out of me but you just got to keep your head on straight and keep working and I’m super grateful UNLV came along and believed in me,” said Edmundson.
While there was interest from multiple schools, it was UNLV that offered Edmundson a scholarship and he signed with them on Feb. 1. A connection with former University of Texas at Austin assistant coach Brennan Marion, who’s now the offensive coordinator at UNLV, helped make this move possible.
“Coach Marion just called me one day and was making sure I was healthy and making sure I still loved the game of football and that’s something I’ll never lose,” said Edmundson. “He says I’ve seen you throw and I know you can throw good and I’ve seen you lead. Super cool to see the impact not just on the field but off the field come to fruition.”
“This past season was a bit of a roller-coaster,” said Kevin Edmundson, “But we’re very thankful for the Lake Travis community and the football program and everything that’s been afforded to Bo over the last couple of years.”
This wasn’t the path that was planned, but ultimately he has a shot to play quarterback at the Division 1 level and is ready to make the most of it.
“There’s a lot coming out of me and I guess it’s the revenge tour, if I may say,” said Edmundson. “I’m just excited to get back on the field and it’s just a fresh start, and that’s what I need.”
It’s a fresh start Carter thinks Edmundson will make the most of and prove what type of player he still is.
“He understands the game probably better than any quarterback we’ve ever had and now that he’s healthy, going on to UNLV, I think he’s going to have an incredible career,” said Carter. “I think Bo’s going to be one of those guys where there’s going to be a movie about him someday.”