Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier suffered a major blow this weekend. Five-star safety Jireh Edwards, from St. Frances Academy in Maryland, has opted to commit to Alabama instead of Florida. Edwards, the top-rated safety in the Class of 2026, announced his decision on Saturday, choosing the defending national champion Crimson Tide over the Gators and other elite programs.
This marks a continuation of Alabama’s dominant recruiting push. Edwards becomes their fifth five-star commit, joining elite talents like Cederian Morgan, Jorden Edmonds, Xavier Griffin, and Ezavier Crowell. Alabama now boasts a top‑5 national ranking in both the 247Sports and Rivals team standings.
The loss of Edwards significantly weakens Florida’s 2026 class. Currently ranked No. 16 nationally, the Gators trail SEC rivals like Georgia, Texas A\&M, LSU, and Tennessee, all of whom rank above them ([athlonsports.com][2]). Yet, Napier has demonstrated recruiting firepower before—landing five-star QB DJ Lagway and DL LJ McCray in the 2024 class—but he’ll need more such wins to rebuild momentum.
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