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Two Notre Dame football legacy recruits to compete in Irish Invasion

Kyle Kellyby: Kyle Kelly06/04/25ByKyleKelly
Marcus Freeman
Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman. (Mike Miller/Blue & Gold)

A pair of Notre Dame football legacy recruits plan to participate in Friday’s Irish Invasion camp.

Pittsburgh Central Catholic 2027 offensive lineman James Halter and Jacksonville (Fla.) The Bolles School 2028 running back Xander Edwards told Blue & Gold they will visit Notre Dame and compete in the program’s premier high school prospect camp. Both recruits recently attended the Blue-Gold Game on April 12.

Edwards’ father is former Notre Dame football captain and fullback Marc Edwards, who played for the Irish from 1993-96. The elder Edwards was selected No. 55 overall by the San Francisco 49ers in the 1997 NFL Draft and ranks eighth in Notre Dame history with 32 career rushing touchdowns.

Halter is the son of former Fighting Irish offensive lineman Jordan Halter, who played alongside Marc Edwards on the 1993 team. Jordan began his Notre Dame career in 1989 and concluded it as a fifth-year senior in 1993. The Irish notably finished 11-1 in 1993, ending the season with a 24-21 win over Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl. However, they ended the season No. 2 in the AP Poll.

James Halter, a rising junior, is further along in his college recruitment than Xander Edwards. The 6-foot-5, 268-pounder holds scholarship offers from 12 schools, including North Carolina, Nebraska, Indiana, NC State, Kentucky, Michigan State, Boston College, West Virginia, Pittsburgh and Rutgers.

Halter primarily played tight end for Pittsburgh Central Catholic last season before switching to offensive line in the offseason. Notre Dame offensive line coach Joe Rudolph has kept tabs on his development, visiting his high school during the spring recruiting contact period. The Irish are Halter’s dream school. He hopes to earn a scholarship offer from Marcus Freeman’s program.

“It would really mean a lot to me,” Halter told Blue & Gold on May 9. “Just because of how important it is. I grew up a Notre Dame fan. They’ve been my number one school forever.”

Xander Edwards, a rising sophomore, has offers from eight schools, including Syracuse, SMU and Pittsburgh. The 6-foot-2, 220-pounder shined as a freshman on a loaded Bolles School team. He rushed 78 times for 558 yards (7.2 yards per carry) and 8 touchdowns. His production matches his speed as he reports a 4.59 40-yard dash. Edwards is expected to be a strong candidate for a Pot of Gold Day offer next March.

On3 has not yet rated Halter or Edwards.

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