4-Star DL Kalen Edwards on Kentucky Commitment: 'This is the Place for You'

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When Kalen Edwards took his official visit to Kentucky on June 21, everything sunk in all at once. He had found his new home.

The 6-foot-4, 325-pound defensive lineman from Dyersburg (TN) announced his commitment to Kentucky on Wednesday. He told KSR+ that he plans on enrolling in January.

“It just felt like the best place for me and my family,” Edwards said. “I just got a feeling in my stomach, Kalen, this is the place for you.”

Edwards’ commitment wasn’t the work of just one coach. It was a full effort from the Kentucky staff.

“Normally, on the other visits I went to, I just got the defensive side,” Edwards said. “There, I got offense and defense. It was everybody.”

Fitting into Kentucky’s Defensive Scheme

Kalen Edwards already finds a nice synergy between the defensive scheme he runs at Dyersburg and UK’s defensive scheme. There are a lot of commonalities.

“The defensive scheme fits me,” he said. “It’s what I do in high school now. The defensive coordinator reminds me of the defensive coordinator here. That’s one of the big reasons. He gives me the same vibe that my defensive coordinator has here.”

Edwards said the staff sees him playing anywhere inside. He can play nose tackle in a 3-4, but is willing to move around if they switch it up.

“Their main scheme is a 3-4, so I’d be a nose on that,” he said. “If I switch it up, I can play anywhere from the nose to the 4i. I can play anywhere inside. They said they got me anywhere.”

Edwards is already getting to know one person he’ll be playing with over at Kentucky. He said he’s been talking to 2025 EDGE commit Nicholas Smith since he committed.

“We’ve just been talking about our journey, the reasons for committing to Kentucky, and how we’re about to be future teammates,” he said.

Kalen Edwards’ Game

Four-star defensive lineman Kalen Edwards of Dyersburg (TN) is the nation’s No. 320 overall prospect, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. On3 ranks Edwards as the No. 25 defensive lineman and the overall No. 8 best player in Tennessee.

“I feel like I strike off the ball,” Edwards said. “I’m a good rally. If there’s a swing play, I’m going to rally to the ball. I’m aggressive.”

Edwards is focused on improving his conditioning before enrolling in January. He also wants to improve his mental part of the game.

“Everybody told me it’s different in college,” he said. “I want to get deeper into the mental side. I really don’t think about it like that, but when I get to the next level, I really have to. I’ve got the physical part and I have to build on that, but the mental side is another part of it.”

When Edwards started to play football in the sixth grade, he wasn’t thinking about playing professionally or even in college. He was just playing ball. Entering high school, Edwards didn’t get to play his freshman year. However, once his sophomore year came along, he made the most of it.

“I balled out during the spring and got a spot for my sophomore year,” Edwards said. “I got my first two offers on the same day. That’s when I knew, yeah Kalen, you can take this somewhere. That’s when I realized it.”

He’s Not Just a Football Player

Kalen Edwards isn’t just a football player. He’s also an artist. “I’m really an artist,” he said. ‘I know how to draw.”

Edwards said he doesn’t do it often, but it’s a hobby he’s picked up. He likes to draw pictures of people. “I did a self-portrait about a year ago and it came out pretty nice,” he said.