With NSD right around the corner on Wednesday, here is the latest intel going into Wednesday morning....
- With regards to the O-linemen, they obviously already landed a commitment from Purdue transfer Josh Kaltenberger and hosted several others as the offensive trenches are again the team's biggest need going into the offseason. Indiana transfer Zach Carpenter visited last week and was set to announce yesterday but that never materialized. He took an official visit to Miami over the weekend and as things stand now, I think it is unlikely he picks Maryland. The Terps also hosted Michigan State transfer Keyshawn Blackstock, who had already committed to Arkansas but took a visit to Maryland anyways. He has reconfirmed his commitment to the Razorbacks and has shut it down.
The Terps hosted Murray State OL DJ Jones late last week. He took one more final official visit to UAB over the weekend and is expected to make a commitment in the very near future. Looking at all the schools he visited (Maryland, Appalachian State, Western Kentucky and UAB) the Terps likely have the most to offer but he still has to make sure it is the right decision for him.
Finally, the Terps hosted Georgia transfer OL Aliou Bah, a former Rivals250 prospect who played at IMG. It sounds like the visit went extremely well and Maryland is well positioned to land a commitment. He redshirted in 2022 so he has three years of eligibility remaining.
- At defensive back, the Terps already landed local product Jalen Huskey of Bowling Green, but still need more corners. They hosted UNC transfer and Tidewater native Tayon Holloway over the weekend and it sounds like the visit went well and there is a strong connection there with fellow Tidewater native Latrell Scott. With that said, he previously visited Louisville and he's scheduled to visit LSU after the start of the new year. In the end, my gut feeling is that the Terps win out on this one, but still have a ways to go.
I still like Maryland's chances with local high school Rivals250 prospect and South Carolina commit Braydon Lee. There was a bit of South Carolina chatter in recent days but I'm not really buying it. This has felt like a Maryland flip for quite some time now and I'll be more surprised if he signs with the Cocks instead of flipping to the Terps and nothing has happened to change my mind.
Finally, Nebraska has been working hard to flip Florida four-star DB Larry Tarver and I know early on I had pretty much dismissed it, but Nebraska has some real momentum right now. It is also worth noting that Tarver flipping could also play a factor in three-star LB Jeremiah Marcelin flipping to the Terps from Pitt. For now, I think they both end up Terps, but I'm actually a little less confident than I was before. Maryland is going to have to work hard to fight off Nebraska, Pitt and Louisville, who is continuing to work Marcelin.
- The Terps hosted Central Michigan DL Quindario Lee over the weekend and it sounds like that visit went well. But Georgia is also in the mix here and this recruitment is going to go into the spring.
- With regards to high school offensive linemen, the Terps should be signing Baltimore (Md.) St. Frances former Michigan State commit Logan Bennett. He decommitted from Michigan State back in early November immediately following a visit to Maryland for a game the weekend prior. Other offers included BC, Colorado and more. At 6-foot-5, 295, he projects as an interior lineman.
As for the biggest fish still (supposedly) out there for the Terps, Jordan Seaton, a five-star, the No. 13-ranked player nationally and the top offensive lineman in the class according to Rivals, had an interesting post to social media over the weekend. He apparently posted an instagram story with a pic of Rak Jarrett and Locks. Of course, Rak was a five-star flip from LSU who also attended St. John's in DC. I also found it very odd that he committed to Colorado when they weren't on his list and that he had this whole statement about how important it is to play for a black head coach (hello Locks!). Maybe I'm way off base here, but this just has the feel of one of those shocking Locks orchestrated flips. I honestly never felt great about Seaton, despite the staff feeling good about where they stood throughout, but if anyone could pull this stunner off, it is Locksley.
- With regards to local Rivals250 high school D-line prospect Ernest Willor, it feels like Wisconsin has the momentum, especially with him not taking a planned visit to Maryland. I really thought they would pull this one off--and they still might--but for now the Badgers are clearly the team to beat.
And as for Lugard Edokpayi, the Terps were able to get him on campus for a visit a couple of weekends ago, but we'll have to wait and see if Locks can pull off the stunner.