4-star RB Dylan Edwards to Notre Dame: "It was a no-brainer for me"

Dylan Edwards is a Kansas State legacy. His father, Leon Edwards, played for the Wildcats under former head coach Bill Snyder. In June, the four-star out of Derby (Ks.) committed to the in-state school and it looked like he would follow in his father’s footsteps.

About a month after the No. 292 prospect in the On3 Consensus committed to Kansas State, Notre Dame came in with an offer. That quickly changed things.

On the same day the 5-foot-8, 155-pound four-star received the offer from the Irish, he decommitted from the Wildcats. After a visit to South Bend, Edwards has committed to Notre Dame.

“Notre Dame is the spot,” Edwards told On3. “Notre Dame is a national program on the biggest platform in the country. They play great competition every week. I get an Ivy League education. Every game is on NBC. I have a chance to win a natty.

“It was a no-brainer. Notre Dame has it all. It is the best fit for me.”

Edwards is excited about the opportunities in front of him at Notre Dame. He got on campus and saw the history, he got a feel for the environment, and he knew it is where he wanted to be.

“The visit truly surprised me. It was my first time at Notre Dame and it really opened my eyes. I love the city of South Bend and it is a place I can live and be happy. I love the people around the city and at the school.

“When I was on the visit, I learned a lot about the school, the culture, and what Notre Dame is about. It is a great school with great people. It offers a top education, it is a school I can win a national championship at, and I knew after spending a couple of days there that, that is where I wanted to be.”

Edwards is the 21st prospect to commit to Notre Dame.

Edwards is excited about playing for Freeman and McCullough

While still at Indiana, Deland McCullough offered Edwards as one of his first running back targets in the 2023 class. That relationship was established early.

When McCullough left Bloomington for South Bend, he let Edwards know that he was still on his radar. Once McCollough got the green light to offer at Notre Dame, he did, and now the two are united.

“Coach Deland is a great guy and someone I am very excited about getting to play for,” Edwards said. “We have had that connection for a while now and I was one of the first running backs he offered this year.

“When he got to Notre Dame, coach Deland said, ‘I am coming for you’, and here we are. He has always wanted to coach me and I can’t wait to play for him. He has been in the NFL, he has coached in the NFL, and I think he has a great plan for me at Notre Dame.

“I believe in him, he believes in me, and we will work well together.”

Marcus Freeman is another coach Edwards can’t wait to suit up and play for in South Bend. When the head coach found out Edwards was visiting, he hopped on a plane in New York and flew back to campus to visit with him. That made a very strong first impression.

Edwards knows why the Notre Dame recruiting class is excited about the new leader.

“Coach Freeman is about the big picture – winning a natty. He told me that he won’t be my best friend, but he will push me to be my best. That is what I want. He has that drive and that winner’s mentality I was looking for.

“Coach Freeman is a great guy, he has good energy, and he is focused on winning it all at Notre Dame. Some coaches are about winning conference championships, but coach Freeman wants that national championship. He has a plan at Notre Dame, he is focused on winning it all, and I like what he is about.”