Alabama held a special spot in five-star Jireh Edwards ‘ heart long before he was provided the opportunity to play for the storied program. The Baltimore St. Frances star said that he grew up with the desire to play for the Crimson Tide and, when he went through the recruiting process, he always kept them high on his list.
Now, the nation’s No. 26 player and No. 3 safety will suit up for Alabama after announcing his commitment Saturday on the 247Sports YouTube channel.
“It means a lot,” the 6-foot-2, 205-pound Edwards said. “Me having an opportunity to make a name for myself and also keep the standard, the standard with all the DBs that came from ‘Bama, it means a lot.”
Crimson Tide defensive backs coach Jason Jones and co-defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach Maurice Linguist built strong bonds with Edwards, and they played a huge role in his recruitment.
“I feel coach Jones and coach Mo are true people,” Edwards said. “They tell the truth. Coach Mo has a lot of background playing and coaching, coaching with the Cowboys, and coach Jones has a lot of background. He played at Alabama so he already knows the standard and he will keep holding the players to that standard.”
Edwards shows his versatility in the scheme at St Frances. He has the physicality to play as a box safety, has the range to play free safety and also lines up covering the slot.
“The scheme is perfect for me,” he said. “They already showed me where I would be playing and the opportunities I will have there.
“The scheme is really important. Seeing the guys there and what they are doing right now, I feel like I am one of the best safeties in the country so going there is going to be amazing.”
Here is what you need to know:
WHAT JIREH EDWARDS SAYS ABOUT ALABAMA
“I am committing to Alabama,” Edwards said. “It was just different. My growing up, I always knew I was going to end up going to ‘Bama. They really care about ball. It’s a college town.
“When you go to other schools, they say it’s a college town but ‘Bama really is a college town.”
WHO ELSE WAS IN THE MIX?
Edwards made a bunch of unofficial visits and had suitors from coast-to-coast but it came down to Auburn, Alabama and Georgia. Oregon, Maryland, Florida and Texas A&M were also involved late but his official visits were to Auburn, Alabama and Georgia. The Crimson Tide hosted Edwards the weekend of June 6-8, and he canceled visits to Oregon and Texas A&M and shut down his recruitment coming out of that trip.
WHERE JIREH EDWARDS RANKS AS A RECRUIT
Edwards has a 247Sports grade of 98, which makes him a five-star prospect, the nation’s No. 3 safety and No. 26 player. He is the No. 3 player in Maryland. In the industry-generated 247Sports Composite, Edwards is the No. 2 safety and No. 23 player overall. He is also the No. 3 player in Maryland.
HOW JIREH EDWARDS FITS WITH ALABAMA
Alabama landed a pair of five stars in Gainesville (Ga.) High edge rusher Xavier Griffin and Alexander City (Ala.) Benjamin Russell receiver Cederian Morgan in the last week, and Edwards makes it four five-star prospects in the class. Marietta (Ga.) Sprayberry cornerback Jorden Edmonds is also a five-star prospect. He is also the second safety in the class as he joins Cincinnati Winton Woods’ Rihyael Kelley.
WHAT WE THINK OF EDWARDS
Andrew Ivins, who is the director of scouting for 247Sports, provided the following Edwards evaluation:
“Punishing defender that should offer some alignment flexibility at his next stop as he can spin down into the box or patrol from the border. Owns a college-ready build with some promising features and tested off the charts spring before junior year.
“Spent much of his 11th-grade campaign deployed as an oversized slot and did nothing but make plays for one of the nation’s top prep defenses. Triggers downhill in the snap of a finger and frequently arrives with violence. Comfortable crashing gaps, but is also effective in the alley as he uses sharp angles to get ball carriers on the ground. Instinctive in coverage and can match and mirror underneath routes with his lateral agility.
“Will take some chances when defending the pass, but unsuspecting length can bail him out. A bit older for the grade, but that should have him on the field sooner rather than later. Overall, projects as an all-around defensive playmaker that can make an impact on Saturdays and then possibly Sundays with his physicality and athleticism.”
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