There isn't much Xander Edwards doesn't already know about Notre Dame.
The 2028 Florida running back has been around the school for years, but he'll return to South Bend this fall looking to see how the Irish have changed since his last visit.
Edwards is set to be back at Notre Dame for the Michigan State game on Sept. 19.
“It's just such a beautiful place,” Edwards told Irish Sports Daily. “And with my dad being a legacy, I think it means a lot to him as well as to me. I just want to go up there again, just see what the difference is between this year and last year.”
The Bolles School standout is the son of former Notre Dame running back great Marc Edwards and his sister recently graduated from the University.
The Irish offered the 6-foot-2, 215-pounder on Father's Day in June, an offer Edwards had been waiting for. Since then, the Jacksonville native has been in consistent contact with Notre Dame running backs coach Ja'Juan Seider.
“Me and Coach Seider have been texting pretty much every week now,” Edwards said. “He's been keeping up with me, wishing me good luck in my games. Me and Coach Seider have been building that relationship and I'm really looking forward to keep building that relationship.”
Edwards has also been paying attention to Seider's work with the Irish running backs.
“He's a great guy,” Edwards said. “I see his running back drills on Instagram all the time. It looks like he really knows what he's doing, wants to develop you into a better man and a better football player, which means a lot.”
The Notre Dame trip will be one of several opportunities for Edwards to evaluate schools this fall.
He has a packed fall visit schedule. He is set to start it with a visit to Florida State on Aug. 29, followed by September trips to Kentucky, Wisconsin, Notre Dame and Florida. He also has trips scheduled to Clemson, Ohio State, Miami, Michigan, Indiana, Tennessee and Georgia through the end of November.
Those visits will help Edwards begin the process of trimming his options.
“See what these schools have to offer in terms of environment, tradition, and how well they do this season,” he said. “I'm just looking for the best fit for me and the best offense I would fit in.”
Edwards expects that process to move forward relatively quickly during the season.
“I want to narrow it down by mid-season and then I'm going to narrow down my top 10 and then I'm going to make my decision pretty much this time next year,” he said.
Before turning too much of his attention toward recruiting, Edwards has his own season to focus on.
The Bolles star is coming off a sophomore season in which he rushed for 2,629 yards and scored 44 total touchdowns. He also set a Florida single-game record with eight rushing touchdowns against Baldwin, but his team fell short in the Class 2A state title game.
Edwards isn't setting any statistical goals for himself after last year's production.
“I'm just going to trust in my guys, my o-line and do as much as I can to help the team win and win that state championship. I don't have any goals. I just want to win a state championship.”
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