Since taking part in Grille in the Ville, four-star running back Xander Edwards out of The Bolles School in Jacksonville, Florida, has been on Florida football's radar for the 2028 recruiting class.
The 6-foot-1-inch, 210-pound ball-carrier has given a slight edge to Miami; however, he has not narrowed his list yet, giving room for the Gators to make a push.
"I'm just excited to see what the new staff brings to Florida and see if they bring Florida back to where it used to be," Edwards told Swamp247. "I'm excited to see all the tradition, the atmosphere in the Swamp, and I'm excited to see what the Florida Gators can do against a great team."
Edwards has credited his relationship with Florida running backs' coach Chris Foster as part of the reason
he likes the program and the experiences he's had so far on campus.
"He's just such a genuine guy, doesn't care so much about the football part. He cares more about knowing the player personally. Wants to get invited to their wedding, wants to just hang out and have a strong bond with his players," he said. "That stands out a lot to me, and that means a lot to me."
"I feel like they just bring so much more energy, like Coach (Jon) Sumrall brings so much energy, so much more energy than the last coaching staff," Edwards said. "The vibe is just ecstatic; everyone's just so energetic, everyone's so excited for the season. Definitely has changed a lot of things about the Florida football program."
The program Edwards says is right behind Miami is Florida, but schools like Indiana, Wisconsin, Florida State, Georgia, Ohio State and Michigan are all pushing as well.
The rising junior will return to the Swamp for a visit when Ole Miss comes to town on Sept. 26.
Xander Edwards' recruiting summary
Edwards is currently ranked as the No. 143 player in the country, the No. 9 running back, and the No. 15 recruit in Florida according to 247Sports. On ESPN, Edwards is ranked No. 130 in the country, the No. 6 running back, and the No. 18 recruit in the state of Florida. Rivals has Edwards ranked No. 126 nationally, No. 11 for his position, and No. 14 in the state.
Edward says Miami is leading the way, with Florida right behind, along with schools like Indiana, Wisconsin, Florida State, Georgia, Ohio State, and Michigan making pushes as well.
Rivals' recruiting prediction machine puts Notre Dame at the top of his recruitment, with the Fighting Irish holding a 38.1% chance to land him. Miami (20.5%), Florida (12.1%) and Syracuse (5.5%) conclude the top four while South Florida rounds out the top five at 5%.
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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida football pushing for 4-star in-state 2028 running back
