Latest news with #JirehEdwards
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mother of Recent Alabama 5-Star Commit Shuts Down Nick Saban Rumor
Mother of Recent Alabama 5-Star Commit Shuts Down Nick Saban Rumor originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Alabama Crimson Tide has had a very productive recruiting run with the 2026 class. The program added five-star safety Jireh Edwards on Saturday, who is the No. 2 player at his position. However, with Alabama's recruiting success, rumors have circulated that former head coach Nick Saban may have played a role. Advertisement The mother of five-star Alabama commit Jorden Edmonds took to X to refute these claims. She commented on a post highlighting the other five-star pledges the Crimson Tide have to settle the score. Edmonds is the No. 2 corner in the 2026 class and has been committed to Alabama since March. ESPN College Gameday analyst Nick Saban. © Jerome Miron-Imagn Images "Neither has Edmonds! Edmonds' mother said. "And he's been committed since March!" Alabama now has five five-star commits from the 2026 class, including Edwards, Edmonds, running back Ezavier Crowell, receiver Cederian Morgan and linebacker Xavier Griffin. Saban was the head coach in Tuscaloosa from 2007-2023, winning six national titles during that span. He retired after the 2023 season, which ended with a 27-20 overtime loss to the Michigan Wolverines in the College Football Playoff. Advertisement Current head coach Kalen DeBoer just finished his first season at 9-4. After narrowly missing the CFP last season, Paul Finebaum weighed in on DeBoer's future. While he does not think missing the playoff again will get DeBoer fired, he believes the pressure on the head coach will intensify. After Edwards' recent pledge to the program, Alabama has the No. 5 recruiting class for the 2026 cycle on On3 Sports. A new commit may be on the way via quarterback Tayden Kaawa, who the Crimson Tide are leading the pack for. Alabama faces the Florida State Seminoles in its season opener on August 30. Kickoff is at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC. Related: Ty Simpson Names 'Bucket List' Event as Alabama's Quarterback This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Florida Dealt Huge Recruiting Loss by National Championship Contenders
Florida Dealt Huge Recruiting Loss by National Championship Contenders originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Florida Gators have fielded a fair share of defensive stars. The group includes Wilber Marshall, Jack Youngblood and Reggie Nelson. Class of 2026 five-star safety Jireh Edwards has chosen not to try to join that pantheon. Advertisement Edwards, a standout at St. Frances Academy (Md.), opted to join the Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday, spurning Billy Napier and the Florida Gators. Unfortunately for Napier, Edwards further bolsters an already stacked class for a conference foe. According to On3, he's the fifth five-star commit for the Crimson Tide, joining receiver Cederian Morgan, cornerback Jorden Edmonds, linebacker Xavier Griffin and running back Ezavier Crowell. Alabama nestles into the top five of both the 247Sports Recruit Team Rankings (No. 4) and Rivals Industry Team Rankings (No.5). Other than Florida, Edwards chose Kalen DeBoer's program over Kirby Smart's Georgia Bulldogs, Mike Elko's Texas A&M Aggies and Dan Lanning's Oregon Ducks. Advertisement Florida Gators head coach Billy NapierMatt Pendleton / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images The whiff on Edwards shouldn't sound the alarm for the Gators, however. Napier has shown the ability to woo high-level talent, most notably five-star quarterback DJ Lagway in the 2024 class. Napier also signed five-star defensive lineman LJ McCray in the same group. Per 247Sports, Florida has had the No. 7 and No. 9 recruiting classes in 2024 and 2025, respectively. The Gators are ranked No. 16 overall in the 2026 class at the moment, behind SEC competition in Georgia (No. 2), Texas A&M (No. 3), Alabama (No. 5), LSU (No. 10), Texas (No. 12) and Tennessee (No. 15). Napier will have some work to do to climb on that list. Related: Nation's No. 1 QB Names College Football Powerhouse He Envisions Himself Playing At This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Auburn Handed Massive Recruiting Loss by Biggest Rival
Auburn Handed Massive Recruiting Loss by Biggest Rival originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Hugh Freeze and the Auburn Tigers were beaten out by their bitter rivals twice in two days on the recruiting trail. The Alabama Crimson Tide earned the commitment of five-star receiver Cederian Morgan on Friday. Advertisement On Saturday, the Tigers watched Kalen DeBoer's team win the affection of five-star safety Jireh Edwards. Freeze's team remains in the mix for another five-star safety in the 2026 class, Bralan Womack. Still, Edwards is a big swing and miss, being that 247Sports director of scouting Andrew Ivins compares him to former Georgia Bulldogs standout Malaki Starks. "Punishing defender that should offer some alignment flexibility... as he can spin down into the box or patrol from the border," Ivins wrote in a scouting report. "Projects as an all-around defensive playmaker that can make an impact on Saturdays and then possibly Sundays with his physicality and athleticism. "Likely to keep the tag of safety, but should really be viewed as a chess piece that can be moved all around in an era where position lines continue to blur." Advertisement Auburn Tigers head football coach Hugh Freeze.© John Reed-Imagn Images Other safeties that the Tigers have offered that haven't committed include four-stars Lasiah Jackson, Cortez Redding and Craig Tutt. Three-stars Tyriq Green, Blake Stewart and Nascar McCoy also have yet to make a choice with Auburn on their offer lists. Auburn's defense was middle of the pack in the SEC last season, giving up 330.8 yards per game. Texas, Tennessee and Ole Miss were tops in that category. Especially during a three-game stretch that includes Oklahoma, Texas A&M and Georgia this season, the Tigers will have to make some big stops. Related: Nation's No. 1 QB Names College Football Powerhouse He Envisions Himself Playing At This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
5-star safety includes Alabama in finalists, announces commitment date
One of the nation's top safeties made noise on the recruiting trail this past Wednesday afternoon, as Jireh Edwards officially set a commitment date, while also narrowing down his list of finalists to six. Included in those six programs were the Alabama Crimson Tide, who were also joined by Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Oregon, and Texas A&M. Edwards' commitment decision between the six programs will come July 5. Advertisement At the moment, Edwards is currently considered as the nation's No. 24 overall prospect according to the 247Sports Composite recruiting rankings, as well as the No. 3 safety in the 2026 class. Edwards, a five-star prospect, is also considered as the No. 3 player in the state of Maryland where he attends nationally-known program, St. Frances Academy. Alabama's 2026 class is already shaping up to be a special one in terms of defensive backs, as the Crimson Tide have a pair of Top 50 players nationally already committed at cornerback in Jorden Edmonds and Zyan Gibson, the former of which is a five-star. Could Edwards potentially join that duo in the coming months? Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Alabama football among finalists for 2026 safety Jireh Edwards
USA Today
11-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
5-star Oregon Ducks target now projected to land with SEC powerhouse
5-star Oregon Ducks target now projected to land with SEC powerhouse A number of the top-ranked recruits have already come to Eugene on official visits over the past couple of weeks, and more are scheduled to make their way to see the Oregon Ducks this summer. One of the top players is 5-star safety Jireh Edwards, who was on campus earlier this spring to check things out. Edwards is scheduled to take an OV to Eugene on June 19, but on Wednesday morning, a prediction from On3's Steve Wiltfong landed for the 5-star defensive back to land with the Alabama Crimson Tide. The 247Sports Composite rates Edwards, who stands at 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, as the No. 23 overall player in the class, and the No. 2 safety. He has strong ties to Eugene, where his former St. Francis Academy teammate, CB Ify Obidegwu, is expected to be one of the starters in 2025 and have a breakout season. Edwards is scheduled to announce his commitment on July 5 after OVs to Texas A&M and Oregon. If Edwards does end up going to the SEC school, Oregon should be able to pivot. This past weekend, they had 5-star safety Jett Washington on campus and are reportedly in a good position to land his commitment after the successful visit. Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
