Hurricanes an early contender for top-125 S Jireh Edwards: “Miami is known for producing a lot of great safeties”
Baltimore (Md.) St. Frances Academy four-star safety Jireh Edwards is down to 10 schools after recently announcing his top programs, and the Miami Hurricanes are among that final group.
Alongside Miami in Edwards’ top 10 is Ohio State, Georgia, Maryland, Tennessee, USC, Oregon, Michigan State, Auburn, and Alabama.
“Miami is known for producing a lot of great safeties,” Edwards told CaneSport. “And the culture in Miami is just amazing.”
Heading into the summer, Edwards, who is the No. 116-ranked prospect in the 2026 class according to the On3 Industry Ranking, is hoping to announce his commitment to one of his top 10 programs.
“I feel like it was a good time because of the relationship I have with these coaches and schools,” Edwards said when asked why he wanted to trim his list of over 20 offers. “I feel like it was a need for me to do it. I feel like I’m almost ready to commit, so I wanted to focus on my top 10.”
The 6-foot-1, 200-pounder last visited Miami in January and is hoping to get back on campus later this summer. After seeing Coral Gables earlier this year, Edwards raved about his time on campus.
“I visited Miami as soon as the dead period was up, and it was amazing,” Edwards said. “It was everything a recruit would want to see in a school. The love and the cultures they have are great.”
On staff, the Maryland native has built a strong relationship with Hurricanes defensive coordinator Lance Guidry as well as linebackers coach Derek Nicholson, who is now leading the push for Edwards in place of former defensive backs coach Jahmile Addae, who is now with the Buffalo Bills.
“I had a good relationship with coach Addae, but he left,” Edwards explained. “One of the coaches that I have built a good relationship with is coach Dnic. That’s my guy as well as a coach Guidry.”
Since Addae’s departure, Edwards did say his view of Miami changed a bit, but both Guidry and Nicholson have done a great job of making him feel like a priority target for the program.
“It definitely did change how I looked at Miami a little,” Edwards said. “He did have a big impact on my recruitment. Coach Nicholson and Guidry have taken more responsibility in recruiting me.”
When looking into a program, Edwards is hoping to find somewhere that feels at home and where he can also be developed both on and off the field.
“I think it’ll come down to wherever feels like home,” Edwards said. “I want to go to a place where I will be comfortable living as well.”
CaneSport’s take
Edwards is one of the nation’s best defensive backs in the 2026 class and a prospect Miami has been high on for a very long time. So he’s one to monitor closely.
The post Hurricanes an early contender for top-125 S Jireh Edwards: “Miami is known for producing a lot of great safeties” appeared first on On3.
