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Notre Dame football has had quite the run of success at the running back position in recent years. Kyren Williams and Audric Estime were both tremendous players, but current Fighting Irish star Jeremiyah Love is even better.
That success doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon, even after Love most likely leaves following the 2025 college football season. With Jadarian Price, Aneyas Williams, Kedren Young, and Nolan James Jr. all having eligibility remaining after the is upcoming season, the cupboard is well stocked.
That doesn’t even include 2026 commits Javian Osborne and Jonaz Walton either.
Head coach Marcus Freeman and the Fighting Irish staff have also made it a priority to pursue Notre Dame legacies, as well as sons of former NFL players. That includes the likes of Bryce Young, Jerome Bettis Jr., Elijah Burress, and James Flanigan among others. It appears that momentum could be continuing into the 2028 recruiting class as well.
At the recent Irish Invasion camp, Notre Dame hosted Jacksonville (Fla.) The Bolles School running back Xander Edwards. If that last name doesn’t sound familiar, Xander is the son of former Irish star fullback Marc Edwards. The older Edwards plays with the team from 1993-96.
During that stretch, Edwards managed to rush for 1,591 yards and 27 touchdowns. He also hauled in another 46 receptions for 598 yards and five scores.
Edwards was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft. He spent nine years in the league with the 49ers, Cleveland Browns, New England Patriots, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Chicago Bears.
Now a legitimate recruit himself, Xander is just beginning to generate college interest. The 6-2, 210-pound runner was a notable performer for the Bolles School as just a freshman. In 12 games, Edwards rushed for 558 yards and eight touchdowns, an average of 7.2 yards per carry. He added an additional 46 yards on four receptions.
Judging by the film for Edwards, and the overall talent, you can bet that he will continue to garner interest from several programs this offseason and during his sophomore campaign. Edwards has an early offer from South Florida, but that is just the beginning.
You can bet that the Fighting Irish continue to evaluate him, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him offered eventually.
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USC Trojans Receive Shocking Preseason Poll Ranking:Analysts Expecting Comeback?
What has been clear to college football fans is that the USC Trojans must perform this season. The pressure is mounting for USC and coach Lincoln Riley to get back in the double-digit win column. Analysts have released their preseason Top 25 rankings for this season and have placed the Trojans towards the bottom of the poll -- No. 22. While the 2024 results may not prove that USC can live up to any higher ranking, a successful offseason of recruiting and coaching additions have imprinted faith and hope for college football goers. Matt Leinart, former USC quarter and college football analyst, has seen the progress the Trojans have made since their 7-6 finish, and revealed that analysts may be mistaken for what USC can offer this season. " They're preseason ninth in the poll, which means nothing, but people are going to overlook them this year. I think they’re going to be pretty good," Leinart said at Big Ten Media Days. However, Leinart did not forget to share what the Trojans need to fix following last season, that could change the course of their season if fixed. "They were so close last year in a lot of games, and you can't have excuses. But those plays go the different way, maybe they’re 10-3 and in a playoff or 10-2 an in the playoffs, so they need to learn how to finish." Leinart said. The Trojans boast immense talent on both sides of the ball -- whether it's two NFL Draft seeking wide receivers in Makai Lemon and Ja'Kobi Lane, or elite linebacker Eric Gentry and star safety Kamari Ramsey. USC's significant improvement has been the game changer for the attitude on defense this offseason -- emphasizing the goals being made and the talent they're ready to prove. “When you play a schedule like we play it's paramount that [depth] is great, because, if not, it's going to show up and get you at some point. The depth, the talent level, and the size of the defensive line – I mean, there’s honestly, really, no comparison to this time 12 months ago,” Riley said at Big Ten Media Days. What Riley also emphasized to the media in Las Vegas that the drastic improvement is a big milestone for this Trojan team, edging to be the best defensive lines in the country. “Statistically, we were one of the most improved defenses in the country last year,” Riley said. “And how do you take that step from being one of the most improved to flat out being one of the best? That was the number one target for us. I think we've done our part on the roster, and now we've got to develop them and go put it on the field this fall.” In one of the most competitive conferences in the country, the Big Ten offers competitive matchups each week -- especially if you're the USC Trojans. Starting Week 5, the Trojans face on their toughest schedule stretches so far -- playing at Illinois, then home vs. Michigan, at Notre Dame and at Oregon. Riley touched on what areas need to change, but also took the space to comment on what this team will look like come Week 1. "When you're playing in a league that's been created where you're playing a really good defense just about every single week, there's going to become a little bit more pressure on that, right?" Riley said on The Herd. "The windows to make throws or to make plays or the opportunities to score points are going to start to tighten up. So, you've got to be that much sharper. So, certainly our expectations are as high as they possibly could be there and I think this group has a chance to to be one of the best groups in the country."
New report suggests Christian Wilkins release related to 'incident' with teammate
There may be more to Christian Wilkins’ recent surprise release from the Las Vegas Raiders. NFL reporter Josina Anderson reported Saturday that "some sources believe an incident involving a teammate may have factored in-part into the Raiders' fatigue and release" of Wilkins. The nature of the incident is not clear. However, many believe the Raiders had a very good reason to move on from Wilkins considering the money they had invested in him. It also suggests the Raiders saw no alternative if they went straight to a release. Wilkins was dumped by the Raiders just one year into a four-year, $110 million deal. The Raiders suggested Wilkins failed to take rehab seriously as he tries to work his way back from a foot injury. Other teams do not appear to have the same concerns about Wilkins as the Raiders did, and he should find a new landing spot fairly easily. That is one of the reasons some suspect there is more to the Raiders’ decision than they are publicly saying.
Browns make curious decision with rookie QB Shedeur Sanders
The Cleveland Browns are giving Shedeur Sanders special treatment in training camp, but it's not the type of favoritism the fifth-round pick would necessarily want. Per Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN, Sanders is the only Browns quarterback who has not been taking reps with the first-team offense during OTAs or the first two practices of training camp. Former Pittsburgh Steelers first-round pick Kenny Pickett, veteran Joe Flacco and rookie Dillon Gabriel have all split reps with the first team. Despite being asked to throw passes to members of the equipment staff amid a shortage of professional pass-catchers for a four-quarterback roster, Sanders said he's thankful for the opportunity to show the Browns coaching staff his talents. "I feel like that it's not in my control, so I'm not going to think about that or even have that in my thought process of why it is," Sanders said to a question as to why he's not getting first-team reps. "There's a lot of people who want to have the opportunity to be at this level, and I'm here and I'm thankful to have the opportunity. So, whenever that is, that is." Sanders, 23, believes that he can contribute more to the Browns than what the coaching staff is asking of him. "It doesn't make me feel down or left out because I know who I am as a person," Sanders said. "I know who I am as an individual and I know what I could bring to this team. So, I can never feel less than any circumstance." The Browns selected Sanders with the No. 144 pick in April's draft. As a player whom many draft analysts thought was a first-round talent, Cleveland took what could be the steal of the draft in the fifth round. It's curious why the Browns aren't giving Sanders a shot with the first team early in training camp before the quarterback race becomes more serious. Cleveland should absolutely see what Sanders has to offer this summer. Flacco, 40, isn't a long-term solution at the position. Pickett failed in Pittsburgh. The Browns need to gauge what rookies Gabriel and Sanders can do with the first team. Having Sanders throw balls to the equipment staff is a waste of everyone's time. But then again, Cleveland has wasted plenty of quarterbacks.
Aaron Boone Makes Feelings Clear After Yankees’ Big Trade
The New York Yankees didn't come into the season with the strongest third base situation, and it only got worse over time. They converted traditional second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. to the hot corner after getting him at the Trade Deadline last season and installed a timeshare with him, DJ LeMahieu, Oswald Peraza, and Oswaldo Cabrera there in 2025. However, the latter player broke his ankle on May 12, and the Yankees released the now 37-year-old LeMahieu on July 10. Chisholm was primarily back at second at that point, so this left Peraza and Jorbit Vivas as their only true remaining third basemen. With Peraza hitting .147 and Vivas hitting .164, it was clear what the team's biggest need was. That's why it acquired veteran third baseman Ryan McMahon from the Colorado Rockies on Friday. New York manager Aaron Boone gave his thoughts about the 30-year-old before Friday's bout with the Philadelphia Phillies, via SNY. "I know there's real offensive potential there. I know he's had real offensive success, as well as some struggles there over the last calendar year or two," he said. "It seems like over the last month he's really started swinging the bat like he's capable of. He can impact the ball, he can control the strike zone, he's had some swing-and-misses that have probably hurt him a little bit." "But then he can really defend over there," he continued. "The handful of times that we've played against them that I watch him, you're like, 'That's what it should look like over there.' He moves really well and has that prototypical good third base thing." McMahon is slashing .217/.314/.403 with 16 homers and 35 RBI over 100 games this season. He also has a .978 fielding percentage and six errors. Right-handed pitcher Will Warren (6-5, 4.91 ERA) will start for the Yankees against Phillies right-hander Taijuan Walker (3-5, 3.75 ERA) on Friday.
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