“Our kids are going to know that a college degree is very important, and we have to do it by modeling” — that’s what Michigan RB Donovan Edward’s mother used to tell his father Kevin Donovan. Donna stressed three things before she left her family, which were to go to church, get good education, and participate in sports. She believed these things would mold their outlook toward the community. 

Coming from a family of athletes and educators, Donna worked in an elementary school in Detroit. Her husband also worked as the assistant principal, studying late at night to earn his master’s degree. This is what he had to say about it, “I modeled to them what studying looks like.” Donovan Edward is now a senior in Michigan playing his last college football season with the Wolverines, but it isn’t to say his journey was easy growing up without a mother. 

Donovan Edwards came to Michigan in 2021 as the second-highest-rated recruit behind J.J. McCarthy with an ESPN rating at No. 68. But he had to wait behind Hassan Haskins and Blake Corum before he could execute his talent in the CFP’s National Championship victory over Washington. He made history with two 40-yard TD runs in the first quarter and finished the game with 104 yards on six carries. It’s not surprising that he was chosen as one of three college football players to appear on the cover of the EA Sports CFB 25 video game.

Still, this hasn’t been an easy journey for the 21-year-old who suffers from trauma from his childhood from when he was just two years old. 19 years ago, Edwards’ mother Donna succumbed to a cancer battle in August 2005. He and his older brother, Kevin Jr. were raised by Kevin in the Detroit suburb of West Bloomfield. “All of his other friends’ moms are at the games, Mother’s Day is coming up, Thanksgiving is here, all the mothers cooking, Christmas time is here. Not having your mom can be very tumultuous to a child.” Bearing a mental burden can take a toll on life and football even for someone as passionate as Donovan Edwards. 

How Donna’s absence affects Donovan Edwards’ life

Donovan Edwards didn’t have the best season last year. He underwent knee surgery in February and suffered an Achilles injury even before the season started. Even when the season began, he didn’t get a chance to run longer than 15 yards in the first nine games of the Wolverines. He scored a TD only in the seventh game and this is what he has to say, “I was there physically, but mentally, I was just hurting, questioning and wondering, ‘Why isn’t this happening? Why isn’t this going my way?’” 

Donovan Edwards finally went to meet a therapist before the CFP championship game. He later told ESPN, “I have separation problems. I just feel like people always leave my life. That’s because my mother passed when I was 2, so I would rather push people away than to be hurt.” We have to applaud his strength when he said, “Throughout everything, I’ve been a Michigan man. I stood through the tough times.” The way he made it through all these troubles shows his resilience and willingness to work on himself, which is commendable.