Dennis Edwards has switched positions and taken on new responsibilities for Western Kentucky’s offensive line.

The redshirt junior is practicing this fall at center for the Hilltopper offense. Edwards moved to that position from right guard, a spot where he’s made 26 career starts.

Edwards replaces Max Halpin, who manned the center spot on WKU’s O-line for the last two seasons.

“Being under Max Halpin and backing him up, I learned a lot,” Edwards told the Daily News on Tuesday after the Toppers’ second practice of fall camp. “I learned how to communicate and take ownership and leadership and make all the calls early and get set. It’s made it a pretty easy transition for me.”

Edwards came to WKU in the Class of 2014 from Snellville, Ga. The 6-foot-1, 315-pound lineman broke into the starting lineup a year later as a redshirt freshman, starting 12 games and appearing in 14 as the Hilltoppers went 12-2 and won a Conference USA championship.

Edwards then started all 14 games at the position last season, working on an offensive line rated by Pro Football Focus as the fourth-best in the entire nation. He was rated last season by PFF as No. 31 among all guards in the FBS.

Edwards and his fellow O-linemen paved the way for a WKU offense that led the nation in both points per game (45.5) and yards per play (7.65). The Toppers enjoyed an 11-3 season and another C-USA title.

Halpin, left tackle Forrest Lamp and right tackle Darrell Williams Jr. all graduated, creating questions on the WKU offensive line. Edwards and left guard Brandon Ray, a redshirt senior, are the two starting linemen back from last season.

With Halpin gone from the important center position and no obvious reserves ready to replace him, Hilltopper O-line coach Geoff Dartt and the rest of the offensive staff decided to slide Edwards over from right guard.

“Obviously the center’s got to be the quarterback of the offensive line,” Dartt said. “He’s making a lot of the calls and the adjustments.

“But what I’ve challenged Dennis with the most is just taking ownership of the whole offensive line unit. He embraced that in spring when we made the switch and he’s done that through summer to now.”

Edwards said he’s been working “sun up to sun down” with quarterback Mike White, Dartt and other offensive coaches on the calls he’ll make as center.

Another key aspect of the position is snapping the ball. If the center-quarterback exchange gets messed up, then it’s unlikely a positive offensive play will result.

Edwards said he “had his challenges” snapping the ball when he first got to WKU, but that he feels more comfortable doing it now.

“The center position, I’d say the biggest difference is it isn’t as physical as playing guard but it’s a lot more mental,” Edwards said. “You have to quarterback the (offensive line) and run the show.”

Coach Mike Sanford said Monday that one of his highlights from the first fall camp practice was the performance of the offensive line.

Ray and Edwards have been joined on the first-team O-line by redshirt senior Jimmie Sims at left tackle, redshirt sophomore Miles Pate at right guard and redshirt senior Matt Nord at right tackle.

Nord played in all 14 games last season and made one start at left tackle. Sims appeared in 12 games in 2016, starting once at right tackle and six times as a blocking tight end. Pate saw action in WKU’s final 11 games of the year.

“Offensive line was the most improved unit going from spring ball to fall camp,” Sanford said. “It’s Day 1, we’re in helmets, there’s no pads on, I get that.

“But just in terms of their communication, the five guys working together in unison, I was really, really pleased with that group.”{&end}