Cassie LaJeunesse, Campus Carrier Editor-in-Chief
Sophomore Justus Edwards was injured in Saturday’s football game against Centre College. No details of the injury or treatment have been released, but the community has responded with an outpouring of support for Edwards and his family.
Immediately following Edwards’ injury in the game, the Centre Colonels asked the Vikings to join them on the field in prayer, according to a Facebook post from the Berry College Viking Parents page. On Tuesday, the Birmingham Southern College Football Twitter account posted a video of their football team doing 14 up-downs to show their support for Edwards, who wears number 14 for the Vikings.
A video of Edwards in the hospital was released on Sunday and has since circulated on social media. In it, Edwards addressed his football teammates.
“Congrats on the win last night,“ Edwards said in the video. “Y’all keep praying and just keep believing. I’ll be back on that field. They can’t stop me.“
Berry administration and the athletic department will not comment on Edwards’ condition at this time, though campus-wide emails were sent on Sunday and Tuesday.
“As many of you continue to keep Justus in your thoughts and prayers, I wanted to provide an update from Justus’s mother,” Dean of Students Lindsey Taylor said in an email on Tuesday. “She has shared that his surgery went well this morning, and he is on the road to therapy and recovery. She has asked that we continue to pray for speedy recovery!”
The Berry community has shown support for the Edwards family in many ways since Saturday. In an email on Wednesday, the Chaplain’s Office invited students to write notes and get well cards to Edwards, to be collected on Friday and delivered to Edwards over the weekend. Cards will be provided and collected at the Krannert info desk.
A GoFundMe fundraiser was created on Wednesday and more than doubled its goal of $2,500 within eight hours of being posted. Contributions to the fundraiser will assist Edwards’ family throughout his recovery process.