Playing or not, Fordham running back Chase Edmonds makes a big impact

Yards and touchdowns can’t begin to measure what Chase Edmonds has meant to the Fordham football program.

When the All-American running back was sidelined by an ankle injury last weekend at Central Connecticut State, he didn’t sulk.

“He just stepped up and became an assistant coach,” said second-year Fordham coach Andrew Breiner. “He’s established a standard of what it means to work hard and prepare and have your actions match those goals,”

“He’s impacted us in a lot of ways,” Breiner said.

Edmonds’ potential impact on the Rams’ home opener against Eastern Washington is unclear. He’s listed as questionable for the nonconference game, which kicks off at 10 a.m. PST in the Bronx.

As per team policy, Breiner wouldn’t elaborate on Edmonds’ condition. Meanwhile, Eastern is trying to be flexible.

“Are you going to change things because of him in or out of the lineup? That’s really hard to do, number one, and hard to do for your team, number two,” said Eastern coach Aaron Best, whose club flew to New York on Thursday.

However, Edmonds’ availability is a big factor for both teams. A bona fide NFL prospect, the senior from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, already has set the school and Patriot League touchdown records. With 5,400 yards, he’s on pace to set the FCS career record held by Adrian Peterson of Georgia Southern.

However, with a subpar game against Army and the injury against Central Connecticut State, Edmonds has only 115 yards on 31 carries this season, although he’s scored his 70th career touchdown.

“It’s not like I never think about it,” Edmonds told the New York Post recently. “If I get that record, I want to shatter it, and not for myself. I want to do it for my guys. The fact that some of my guys don’t get the recognition they deserve, it really bothers me. This year, I’m gonna do it for them.”

Want more numbers? Edmonds finished fourth in last year’s 2016 Walter Payton Award (Eastern Washington’s Cooper Kupp and Gage Gubrud were second and third) after leading the FCS in rushing yards per game (163.5) and ranking second in all-purpose yards (194.6).

NFL scouts are a fixture in the Bronx these days, as the 5-foot-9, 205-pounder is ranked among the top 10 backs in next year’s draft.

“He’s fun to coach,” Breiner said. “He has a burning desire to continually improve, and he’s not satisfied with where he’s at.”