Four-star RB Dylan Edwards commits to Notre Dame football over Kansas State, Oregon

Notre Dame football remains hot on the recruiting trail this summer and has picked up its third commitment in as many days.

Derby (Kan.) High’s Dylan Edwards, the No. 292 player and No. 17 running back per the 2023 On3 Consensus, announced his commitment to Notre Dame on Saturday over Kansas State and Oregon.

“The academics and how Coach Deland [McCullough] develops his players,” Edwards answered when asked about why he committed to the Irish. “I want to play in the College Football Playoff, and with Coach [Marcus] Freeman, they can get there almost every year.

“This is a great class; we have the No. 2 class in the country right now, and we can push for No. 1 by the end of it. This class has a mission of winning a national championship, and that’s what I want to be a part of.”

Edwards is listed as a running back but is much more than that. He’ll be a playmaker for offensive coordinator Tommy Rees.

“They told me I will be an overall weapon,” said Edwards. “I don’t want to just play running back at the next level. I want to play running back, receiver, punt returner and kick returner. I want the ball in my hands in space, and the rest will take care of itself.”

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The 5-8, 155-pounder will enroll at Notre Dame in January to get a head start on his Irish football career.

“The coaches believe in me to come in and make an impact,” Edwards added. “It’s all up to me about how I perform in spring ball and fall camp. I can’t wait to get up there and show them what I can do.”

Edwards is Notre Dame’s 23rd commitment of the 2023 class, 21 of whom rank as at least a four-star recruit. The Irish trail Alabama for the top spot in the On3 Consensus Football Team Recruiting Rankings.

Edwards goes in depth on his Notre Dame commitment

The four-star prospect took official visits to Kansas State, Nebraska and Oklahoma before he committed to the Wildcats June 23. Edwards’ father, Leon, played running back for Kansas State in the early 1990s. The elder Edwards rushed for 315 yards and a couple of touchdowns across three seasons.

“It started with Coach Deland when he was at Indiana,” Edwards explained. “We had a relationship back then. I always told him that if he was going somewhere other than Indiana, then I’d want him to be my coach, and he always told me that he would come for me. And that’s what happened at Notre Dame. They loved my film and ended up offering me. Coach Deland feels that I can be something big at Notre Dame.”

Before and after Edwards chose the Wildcats, Notre Dame had been looming in his recruitment.

Edwards picked up an offer from the Irish July 27 and made plans to get up to South Bend right away.

“Coach Deland called and offered and said that he wanted me to come up and visit, but the dead period was about to start,” recalled Edwards. “My dad and I were eager to visit, so we told him that we’d be up there the next day. Coach Deland and the staff were all happy about that.”

They had a great two-day visit in South Bend, and on that Friday night, Edwards announced his decommitment from Kansas State. At that point, it was pretty clear that Notre Dame would ultimately be his choice.

“It felt like an official visit,” Edwards said. “The love they showed is a reason why they’re getting such great recruits. I love the school, and academics are a big deal there. I’m excited to get a degree from Notre Dame, and life after football would be great. The future is bright for me. I can’t wait to play ball in South Bend.”

The Dylan Edwards file

Edwards helped lead Derby to an undefeated regular season in 2021 before falling in the Kansas 6A state title game. In 12 contests last fall, Edwards rushed 208 times for 2,603 yards and 38 touchdowns. He also caught eight passes for 101 yards and a receiving score as well.

He earned 2021 Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year honors for his performance as a junior. He was also named to the Sports in Kansas 2021 6A All-State first-team offense.

“Dylan Edwards is the best player I’ve seen in person at the high school level,” said Hutchinson High School head coach Mike Vernon, an opponent of Derby. “He’s very dangerous. I can’t wait for him to graduate.”

Edwards is committed to the playing in the 2023 Under Armour All-American Game.

He won the Fastest Man challenge at the Under Armour Future 50 camp over the summer and reportedly ran a 4.38 40-yard dash at the event.

According to UC Report, Edwards has the third-fastest time among high school football players from last season, clocking at 22.03 miles per hour.