Blue-chip safety Jireh Edwards has already entrenched himself among the most coveted prospects in the region in the early stages of the 2026 cycle as the 6-foot-22, 197-pound four-star already has an established offer list. After beginning his career at Rock Creek before transferring to St. Frances ahead of his sophomore season, Edwards saw his recruitment steadily rise through the fall into the offseason, but he's already narrowed his focus. Edwards released a top ten in mid-April with Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Maryland, Miami (FL), Michigan State, Ohio State, Oregon, Tennessee and USC still in the mix. Edwards, who was invited to the Under Armour Future 50 Camp in late June, has been able to venture out to a handful of his top schools after making the trip to Columbus to check out Ohio State and head coach Ryan Day. Tennessee continues to hit the Baltimore powerhouse hard as they work to add a second Panther safety to their roster alongside freshman Edrees Farooq. The blue-chip safety is planning to make a return trip to Eugene on the 27th with the Ducks a top contender in his recruitment, but Edwards is also looking to make his way back to College Park where the in-state Terps have made themselves a contender. “Whenever I get that call from coach Aazaar to come down, I’m going to come down,” Edwards told IBG. “It’s been going real good. It’s been going way better with Maryland too.” Maryland’s recruiting efforts with St. Frances’ defensive backs have been at a standstill over the last two cycles – until the arrival of Aazaar Abdul-Rahim. His presence made the Terps an immediate contender for versatile ’24 cornerback “Kerm” Humes, while the relationship between Abdul-Rahim and blue-chip 2025 target Blake Woodby has entrenched the Terps among the four-star's finalists alongside Auburn. That same impact is felt in the Terps’ pursuit of Edwards, who was already close with the area recruiter. “Coach Aazaar changed it up a lot. He’s been on us a lot. We were already real close before that but we’ve gotten real close since. It’s home. Locksley too, all the coaches have been reaching out, telling me that I’m a big priority for them.” Edwards is among the local recruits who have taken notice of the newest social media trend among Maryland fans. “Now seeing the guys going to Maryland, the little trend they got, get all the guys to stay home or they keep grandma locked up. It’s funny, but it’s about how they want us to stay home and build something at the University of Maryland.” Jireh Edwards is rated a four-star and 90 overall by On3, checking in as the third-best prospect in Maryland and the nation's 14th-best safety in the 2026 class. Related Links Intel: Virginia four-star update, blue chip buzz in the '26 classFour-star Jordan Scott includes Maryland in final three, sets OV2024 Maryland football position preview: quarterbacksLocal ’26 defensive back planning to visit Maryland after July dead period
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