9/13/2018 football Edit

Iowa State picks up latest commit from 3-Star CB Virdel Edwards

Nick Krueger • Rivals.com

Recruiting Analyst

Nick Krueger joined Rivals.com as a multimedia producer in 2011 and has covered recruiting in the state of Texas since 2016. He also co-hosts and produces Rivals' weekly podcast, Commitment Issues.

Prestonwood Christian Academy cornerback Virdel Edwards walked off his team’s field on last Friday night a winner over visiting Greater Atlanta Christian Academy, but the Spartans made him work for it.

As sweet as it was to take a win from a top out-of-state program, that was just the start for the three-star prospect. Less than a week later, he made more news with his commitment to Iowa State.

Edwards joins wide receivers DK Blaylock and Nathaniel Beal as Texas imports for the Cyclones thus far in 2019, and if the way that he ended last week's game was any indication, they’ll have their work cut out for them working against him in practice when they all arrive in Ames. Edwards defended numerous passes thrown at GAC’s Ty James, and that was critical in preserving the Lions’ win.

“I was just telling myself to stay in my technique,” he said. “It was nothing that I hadn’t done before, we practice this every day; 7-on-7, team, we do it every day so I’m prepared to play my game.”

The Cyclones’ recruitment of Edwards has largely been of the long-distance variety, but he made an unofficial visit in the spring and said that he’s heard and seen enough to know the school is a good fit for him. Iowa State has had a bit of bumpy start to this season, but after what it showed last year, he’s confident in the overall direction of the program under head coach Matt Campbell

“I just like the academics and the staff,” he said. “Those are the big things, they just have everything so organized and I really like what they have going on there with Coach Campbell. He’s really leading the team well and I like that.

“He’s a nice guy all-around, he doesn’t pick favorites, he stays true to self. He’s always encouraging and asking how my family is doing and he’s just good about everything and that’s what I like.”

Edwards is a bigger defensive back that has the size to play cornerback or safety. He said that he hasn’t quite figured out what his role is going to be when he gets there, but he has a strong relationship with cornerbacks coach D.K. McDonald and trusts that they have a plan in mind that’s the best fit for him.

“We haven’t gotten too deep into scheme things yet, I don’t know too much about that,” he said. “Coach D.K. will get me all caught up on that though … I don’t really know for sure yet if they like me better at corner or safety, but I’ll be ready for whatever.”

Edwards said he is hoping to take his official visit to Iowa State this weekend with the Oklahoma Sooners coming to town, or is otherwise looking to make it as soon as possible. Even with his commitment, that official could be very important as he said he expects the other teams that have been recruiting him will still be in communication this fall.

“They’re still recruiting me hard,” he said of other programs. “I’m still looking at those schools too but I’ve been on the phone with all the coaches just running everything over with them. My top choices are Iowa State, (Texas) Tech and Colorado.”

In the meantime, Edwards became Iowa State’s 21st commitment in 2019 and its fourth defensive back in the class. He joined teammates Austin Stogner (Oklahoma), Solomon Turner (Baylor) and Jonah Brewster (Louisiana Tech) as 2019 Lions players committed to FBS programs.