129 replies to this topic

[BSLZackKiesel]

As I mentioned was a likelihood in the article, 3-star OT Marcus Finger (Fort Myers, FL) has flipped his commitment from UCF to Maryland. This doesn't make any change to the class ranking, which stays put at #75 nationally.

[BSLMikeLowe]

Locksley sent out one of his not-so-cryptic wall tweets about an hour ago, which basically means he received another verbal commitment. If the subsequent CBs on 247 are any indication it is either S Cortez Andrews, who is widely expected to pick MD, or SDE Anthony Booker, who was among the visitors two weekends ago but has kept his intentions closer to the vest.

 

EDIT: Sounds like the tweet may have been for Booker. Given that Andrews already seems pretty solid, that's good news.

[BSLZackKiesel]

Locksley sent out one of his not-so-cryptic wall tweets about an hour ago, which basically means he received another verbal commitment. If the subsequent CBs on 247 are any indication it is either S Cortez Andrews, who is widely expected to pick MD, or SDE Anthony Booker, who was among the visitors two weekends ago but has kept his intentions closer to the vest.

 

EDIT: Sounds like the tweet may have been for Booker. Given that Andrews already seems pretty solid, that's good news.

Booker officially commits. Bumps Maryland up to the #66 class nationally, still last in the conference.

[BSLZackKiesel]

3-star CB Tayvion Land flips from Maryland to Liberty. Assumption here is that he didn't qualify academically. This drops Maryland down to the #72 class nationally, still worst in the conference.

[Mackus]

I'm not sure I'd have guessed a number higher than 72 if someone asked me how many FBS teams there are.

Fully expected this type of pain when they fired Durkin, so not criticizing. But sometimes it's just easier to marvel at the failures than to lament them.

[BSLMikeLowe]

3-star CB Tayvion Land flips from Maryland to Liberty. Assumption here is that he didn't qualify academically. This drops Maryland down to the #72 class nationally, still worst in the conference.

 

Read a couple places that UM rescinded its offer to him a week or so ago. Given how highly recruited he was at the start, that no other Power 5 schools were moving on him points to some sort of off-field issue going on. Too bad....from his highlight reel he looked like a playmaker who would have been rated much higher if he were taller. Could have been MD's next Will Likely.

[BSLMikeLowe]

I'm not sure I'd have guessed a number higher than 72 if someone asked me how many FBS teams there are.

Fully expected this type of pain when they fired Durkin, so not criticizing. But sometimes it's just easier to marvel at the failures than to lament them.

 

It wasn't going to be a spectacular class, even by UM standards, even if Jordan McNair didn't die and DJ Durkin was still the coach. Several reasons for that....fewer available scholarships, a slow start in getting verbal commitments (and that was before McNair), a so-so pool of local players, and none of the top ones showing much interest in UM (which makes getting Hazel a pleasant surprise).

 

The past-looking perspective is that this recruiting class will probably end up as good as anyone could expect under all the circumstances that have occurred. And the overall ratings should not be considered a reflection of Locksley and his staff's ability to recruit. Next year will be the measuring stick.

 

The forward-looking perspective is that this is not a good class as it stands now, and not the sort of classes MD needs to have any chance of competing. The impact of it is unlikely to be noticed this season, or even the next one. But once the 2019 players are upperclassmen, then you feel it....both in the overall lack of players signed and the quality (that part isn't written in stone of course, since recruiting ratings aren't exact science). And it almost means that hitting a home run with the 2020 class is an absolute must.

[BSLZackKiesel]

Keep an eye on 4-star S Nick Cross today. He's a DeMatha kid and a Florida State commit, but Adam Friedman is reporting Maryland has come on very strong in the last day or so and could flip him. Penn State also in the picture. Would be a huge pickup, as he's the best player in the state.

[glenn__davis]

It was always going to be a fairly low-rated class simply due to numbers.  Durkin took a few very large classes during his first few years as he attempted to re-stock the roster from the Edsall years, so numbers-wise there just weren't that many scholarships available.  Add in the fact that recruiting was basically at a complete standstill for a 3-4 months, and the general current perception of the program, and there you go.

 

That said, the more important number, from a strictly recruiting standpoint, is the average ranking of the player - MD still suffers here quite a bit this year, but it sounds like there are still a few longshot flips out there.

 

End of the day, yeah, anything Locksley can salvage from this class is a bonus.  It just wasn't meant to be.  I guess a lone "bright spot" is that the local 2019 class doesn't seem like it was that strong, so if we're going to have a "bad" year this probably was the year.  Hopefully the roster is talented enough from Durkin's work to have a positive year next season and re-start the recruiting momentum in 2020.

[BSLZackKiesel]

Locksley just said he expects to finish with 16-18 recruits, which means 2-4 more are still to come.

[BSLZackKiesel]

4-star Dual-Threat QB Lance LeGendre (New Orleans, LA) chooses Maryland over Florida State. Huge pickup for Locksley and his staff.

[clapdiddy]

Parris Heath is also signing with MD today.   He's a JUCO guard.

[BSLZackKiesel]

3-star LB Cortez Andrews (Tallahassee, FL) officially chooses Maryland.

[BSLZackKiesel]

Keep an eye on 4-star S Nick Cross today. He's a DeMatha kid and a Florida State commit, but Adam Friedman is reporting Maryland has come on very strong in the last day or so and could flip him. Penn State also in the picture. Would be a huge pickup, as he's the best player in the state.

Sounds like Cross won't be signing with anyone today.

[BSLZackKiesel]

Terps still waiting on one LOI from 3-star LB Kameron Blount (Waldorf, MD.)

 

4-star DE Eugene Asante (Chantilly, VA) will be announcing at 6:00 this evening, and is expected to choose North Carolina.

 

3-star TE Gerald Drumgoole (Rochester, NY) is one of the Terps' lone remaining targets still uncommitted.

[BSLChrisStoner]

Class up to 59th via 247. 

[Mackus]

Appreciate the updates, Zack.

[BSLZackKiesel]

Locksley said he started recruiting LeGendre two weeks ago. Not bad.

[Mike B]

Locksley said he started recruiting LeGendre two weeks ago. Not bad.

Have to be impressed, on how Locks has rallied.

 

I am guessing, he is working next year hard, while trying to grab some nuggets (Buck would like that), for this year.

[BSLZackKiesel]

Terps still waiting on one LOI from 3-star LB Kameron Blount (Waldorf, MD.)

 

4-star DE Eugene Asante (Chantilly, VA) will be announcing at 6:00 this evening, and is expected to choose North Carolina.

 

3-star TE Gerald Drumgoole (Rochester, NY) is one of the Terps' lone remaining targets still uncommitted.

Blount submitted his LOI, so he's officially on board.

 

Asante officially chose North Carolina, as expected.