For key Maryland football transfer Jamare Glasker, "It was time to come home"
As a junior in at Potomac High (Md.), Jamare Glasker, like many other athletes, lost a season of sports to Covid. So, by the time his senior year came around, scouts hadn't…
As a junior at Potomac High (Md.), Jamare Glasker, like many other athletes, lost a season of sports to Covid. So by the time his senior year came around, scouts hadn't seen much of him.
"Growing up, I always went to Maryland camps, in middle school, high school. So, it was definitely a vision [to play there]," he said. "But it was only Howard and Wake Forest that offered going into my senior year."
At Wake, he redshirted his first year, played in nine games as a sophomore and became one of the defense's better players this season, recording 37 tackles, four breakups and an interception nine starts. He planned to finish his career there, until head coach Dave Clawson stepped down in December. Maryland, in desperate need of upgrades at cornerback, called quickly and got the 6-foot-1, 185-pound Temple Hills native onto campus.
"When I visited, I had other visits planned. I had Ole Miss the next day and Michigan," he said. "But I liked everything coach Locksley was saying, the facilities were good, nice people. And I'm from the Maryland-D.C. area and I just wanted to be back home. I think it was time to come home."
His mother was immediately in love with the idea of him coming home and going to Maryland. His dad wanted him to follow through on the Michigan visit. But he was ready to sign with Maryland.
"They're going to do anything to support me no matter where I am," he said.
Glasker is friendly with defensive backs Jalen Huskey and Shamar McIntosh, He knows incoming Oklahoma transfer Jalil Farooq, like him a P.G. County public schools' product. He's also expecting a former teammate to join him by transferring to Maryland. During his visit, he met cornerbacks coach and associate defensive coordinator Aazaar Abdul-Rahim.
"I was familiar with him from when he was at UMass and Boston College, and he came to my high school during my 10th grade year. Being from the same area, we know a lot of the same people, which helps building that trust and bond. I believe he can get me to the league," he said. "I can get to the league next year, or the year after that and be an all-conference player."
He also got to spend time with head coach Mike Locksley for the first time.
"Coach Locks is a solid dude. He's a stand-up dude. He's going to tell you the truth. He's going to tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear," he said.
"The biggest thing was that they wanted to bring in a CB1 who can come in and contribute a lot," he said. "I was CB1 at Wake. I can cover. I can play man or zone. I can tackle; I've got speed. I think I've got it all, but still, I know I have a lot of work I can do to clean things up."
Glasker is one of eight transfers who've signed with the Terps, something he thought he'd never have the chance to do.
"So, it's definitely a dream," he said. "It's always good to play back at home.
