129 replies to this topic

[BSLZackKiesel]

3-star DT Jalen Alexander (Chesapeake, VA) committed to Maryland tonight. Good to see them still picking up recruits from the 757, even without Mike London on the staff. Chris Beatty is now the primary recruiter there for Durkin.

[BSLMikeLowe]

The TT so-called experts seem very high on Alexander. Feel he's a bit underrated right now as a low 3-star. Athletic and high-motor, but raw, not great technique....so basically his shortcomings sound like coachable things, which is good.

[BSLChrisStoner]

247: The rise of Eyabi Anoma was quick
https://maryland.247...ball--109184349

 

One can dream.

[BSLZackKiesel]

BSL: 2018 Recruiting Update - Offense

 

Taking a look at the offensive members of the 2018 recruiting class about 3 months before National Signing Day.

[BSLZackKiesel]

BSL: 2018 Recruiting Update - Defense/Special Teams

 

Last week we looked at the offensive half of the 2018 class, this week we look at the defense and special teams.

[BSLChrisStoner]

My immediate worry is that MD will have trouble keeping their verbals in-tact.

[BSLChrisStoner]

You'd like to RS lineman if you could, but I'd be giving Fontaine every opportunity for immediate playing time next Summer.

Anoma would a nice / needed get. Feels like a pipe dream, but if he wants immediate PT...

[BSLZackKiesel]

My immediate worry is that MD will have trouble keeping their verbals in-tact.

Yeah, I wouldn't worry much about that. These recruits aren't committing to a finished product, they're committing to a movement and a culture that Durkin and his staff are selling. I don't think this season really impacts that too much.

[BSLMikeLowe]

Bad News: Sounds like Terps are out of the running for Anoma. 24/7 CBs coming in the past several days, including one from a MD writer, have him going to Alabama.

 

Good News: Sounds like the Terps are in very good shape to land Byron Cowart. He was the #1 recruit in the country in 2015, and left Auburn just before the start of this season. Sounds like he will be eligible to play in 2018.

 

CORRECTION: Cowart played in a couple games this season at Auburn. One of the reasons he cited for leaving school  was a health issue his mother was dealing with. No idea where that would leave him as far as remaining eligibility and status for the 2018 season. Sounds like he will have to take it up with the NCAA.

[BSLChrisStoner]

Bad News: Sounds like Terps are out of the running for Anoma. 24/7 CBs coming in the past several days, including one from a MD writer, have him going to Alabama.

 

Good News: Sounds like the Terps are in very good shape to land Byron Cowart. He was the #1 recruit in the country in 2015, and left Auburn just before the start of this season. Sounds like he will be eligible to play in 2018.

 

Would be exciting to land Cowart, especially with him being immediately eligible.

[BSLMikeLowe]

Would be exciting to land Cowart, especially with him being immediately eligible.

 

See my correction above. Looks uncertain as of now.

[BSLMikeLowe]

There's been several decommits from Oregon the past couple days, and more that are wavering, culminating with Taggart's official departure today. Oregon had a Top 10 recruiting class , so Durkin & Co. might want to see what they can peck off of the Ducks' carcass.

[BSLChrisStoner]

There's been several decommits from Oregon the past couple days, and more that are wavering, culminating with Taggart's official departure today. Oregon had a Top 10 recruiting class , so Durkin & Co. might want to see what they can peck off of the Ducks' carcass.

 

Is the thought the decommits won't follow Taggart to FSU? (Seminoles have also lost a number of commits.)

[BSLChrisStoner]

Bad News: Sounds like Terps are out of the running for Anoma. 24/7 CBs coming in the past several days, including one from a MD writer, have him going to Alabama.

Seems like it's now Alabama or Michigan.  Rivals now has him 5stars.   Sucks, he's exactly what is needed.

[BSLChrisStoner]

Going to feel like forever from now until Signing Day.

Want to get these guys locked in.... hopefully finish strong, and get back at things. 

 

[BSLMikeLowe]

Is the thought the decommits won't follow Taggart to FSU? (Seminoles have also lost a number of commits.)

 

Always a possibility, but some may listen to other offers. A couple of them expressed frustration with Taggart over how he handled it....he spent the past couple days traveling around the country recruiting. Guess they feel he wasn't straight with them about his intentions.

[BSLMikeLowe]

According to 24x7, 19 of the current 21 commitments are expected to sign during the early period starting Dec 20th. The two who are not are Noah Boykin and Dontay Demus.

 

Unfortunately it sounds like Boykin is likely to flip to either ND or VT. Extra unfortunate in that he is the highest rated DB in the class per 24x7 (was just bumped to 4-star) and that is a position group that has seen a lot of attrition in recent months (and possibly more if the JC Jackson draft projections are real). Not sure what the deal with Demus is.

[BSLChrisStoner]

At least if you get those 19 locked in, you can fully turn attention to remaining targets and hopefully finish strong.

[BSLZackKiesel]

Testudo Times: Washington Post's All-Met football teams littered with Maryland commits

 

8 Maryland commits earned All-Met honors, and an additional 2 were honorable mentions.

[BSLMikeLowe]

As it's peak recruiting season, I occasionally peruse the TT threads just to see what scuttlebutt is out there. Here's what I saw today (again, for what it's worth):

 

- Derwin Gray and Damian Prince have earned their degrees this fall. All the more reason to leave now (that last part is my take).

 

- OT commit Spencer Anderson had an official visit to UNC last weekend and is apparently choosing between them and MD, even though he is still listed as a MD verbal (there's actually a 24x7 article on it, but it's behind a paywall).

 

- Former FSU commit Houston Griffith (4-star CB) has flipped to Notre Dame. That's potentially good news for the Terps in keeping Noah Boykin, as the Irish now have 3 CBs and 2 Safeties committed in this class.

 

- Anoma has two more recruiting writers predicting he will choose Alabama.

 

EDIT: Per Anoma, via Twitter, he intends to sign during the early period (12/22). That likely does not bode well for MD, as he seems to be such a heavy Alabama lean right now it doesn't give the Terps much chance to change his mind. He will be in College Park for an OV this weekend, so they will get the last word with him....but since he has declared when he will announce I'd say that means his mind is already made up, so the OV will probably be nothing more than a chance for him to say thanks, but no thanks, in person.