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5-star safety Jireh Edwards commits to Alabama: 'The culture really stood out for me'

wiltfong hsby:Steve Wiltfong07/05/25

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Edwards Bama AFI

Baltimore (Md.) St. Frances five-star safety Jireh Edwards announced his commitment to Alabama on Saturday, choosing the Crimson Tide over Auburn, Georgia, Oregon and Texas A&M.

Edwards becomes commit No. 19 for head coach Kalen DeBoer and his staff in the 2026 cycle, adding to a class Rivals previously ranked No. 6 nationally.

“Just the culture,” Edwards said. “The culture really stood out for me. Them producing the guys they produced already and seeing them do so well in the league.”

The nation’s No. 2 safety and No. 19 prospect overall, the 6-foot-1 1/2, 205-pound Edwards visited Tuscaloosa in the spring and then shut his process down following his June official. He now goes public with his plans.

Alabama coaching staff poured into Jireh Edwards and his recruitment

From DeBoer, to Maurice Linguist and Jason Jones and many others, Edwards felt close to everyone at Alabama.

“The guys, Coach DeBoer, he’s a real winning coach,” Edwards said. “He wants to win badly. I feel me and him will match perfect.

“The way they brought my family in with open arms. They love my family. I feel that’s perfect. They did stuff other schools didn’t do. They welcomed me with warm hugs and all that other stuff.”

Edwards said Alabama led following his first visit of the year.

“I grew up being a Bama fan, watching Bama play,” he said. “Them doing all the great things on TV. Me having an opportunity to be part of that, you can’t go past.

“That’s a dream come true. A super dream come true. I know I have an opportunity to play as a true freshman and I’m not taking that for granted. I just want to go out and ball.”