Blue chip safety Jireh Edwards dissects coast-to-coast suitors
Jireh Edwards, a top 50 prospect in 2026, discusses several key programs from the SEC and Big Ten involved in his recruitment.
ORLANDO -- Elite safety Jireh Edwards called a last minute audible last month and made a visit to Texas A&M rather than Ohio State, and now the Aggies are one of the programs that has his attention.
The Baltimore St. Frances class of 2026 blue chip prospect said the Aggies, Maryland, Oregon, Tennessee, Auburn and Alabama were among the programs recruiting him the hardest.
There are no winter visits set up yet for the No. 3 safety and No. 33 player in the nation but his recruitment figures to take greater shape once the spring arrives.
"My last visit was to Texas A&M for the game against Texas," the 6-foot-1, 194-pound Edwards said. "It was smooth. Great atmosphere. Great people. The environment is amazing. Just a great school."
Since the trip Aggies coach Mike Elko and defensive backs coach Ishmael Ariside have remained in contact with Edwards, who had a fundamental reason for making the visit.
"Just see what they had to offer," he said. "I've been to a lot of schools, on a lot of visits, so seeing what Texas A&M has to offer that is different from everybody else. It was a good school to go visit."
Texas A&M certainly made an impression on Edwards, who is also taking a close look at Maryland.
When the Terps landed a commitment from five-star edge and St. Frances teammate and classmate Zion Elee three weeks ago, Edwards took notice.
"Zion does a good job of recruiting me to go to the University of Maryland," Edwards said. "That's hometown so the love will always be there and (assistant coach Aazaar (Abdul-Rahim), coach Locks (Mike Locksley), I have a great relationship with them, too.
"A lot of family, a lot of trees come out of Maryland. A lot of my family went to Maryland. My older brother, he graduated from Maryland in 2013. He ran track."
The impact of family and former teammates attending Maryland is real for Edwards.
"It plays a real high value," he said. "Knowing family that went to Maryland, friends. It's a lot. One of my closer friends, Kevyn Humes, he plays at Maryland."
Among the trips Edwards made during the season was a cross-country jaunt to Oregon. He remains impressed with the Ducks coaching staff and standing in the college football landscape.
"Family environment and the winning program they have," he said of what stands out. "Coach Dan Lanning does a good job with what he does in recruiting and being on top of the food chain. Right now, I feel like they are on the top of the food chain, and everyone wants to go get them."
Tennessee had Edwards high on its safety board for a while, and he got a close look at the Vols.
"Tennessee is a hard program, a real program that loves football," he said. "Coach Heup (Josh Heupel) does a good job of recruiting and winning."
Several St. Frances teammates signed or are committed to Auburn, which hosted Edwards for an unofficial visit for the four overtime game against Texas A&M
"It was a real good game," he said. "Multiple overtimes. It was a tough game."
