Maryland Football Scoop: New Philosophy | Spring Game's Fate? | 5-Star Reassurance
What's the latest on Maryland's new coaching staff and a new philosophy? What's the fate of the spring game? What about two five-stars and an under-the-radar guy looking good? The latest Maryland football scoop below.
What's the latest on Maryland's new coaching staff and a new philosophy? What about the recruiting trail and an under-the-radar guy looking good? Will the spring game survive? The latest Maryland football scoop below.
It sounds like the vibes are good with Maryland's new staff. Mike Locksley has added mix of hungry first-time assistants, like Louis Swaba and Corey Liguet, and grizzled veterans like new coordinators and Pep Hamilton and Ted Monachino (Monachino hasn't been officially announced yet, but he's the new defensive coordinator). Of course, this time of year, it's unusual for things to be bad. But the chemistry seems good.
"New level of professionalism around the building," a source said. "Both coordinators are very workmanlike and everybody loves Pep. He appears to be around 24 hours a day."
I asked a source about Monachino and his philosophy and was told Maryland will be more aggressive this season on defense. Previous coordinator Brian Williams has more success than his predecessors, but many felt his defense was too conservative and reactive. That seemingly will change.
As discussed last week, Maryland lost a ton on the defensive line and hasn't addressed it much in the portal, with the only addition being Eyan Thomas, a 334-pound defensive tackle from FCS program St. Francis (Pa.), the same school defensive end Donnell Brown transferred from. One new guy who could pitch in there early? Dante Recker.
Recker, an early enrollee, wasn't in the big group of highly touted recruits Locksley added in the 2025 class. A three-star ranked the No. 102 defensive lineman nationally, he picked Maryland over Yale, Temple, Akron, Rice and Buffalo. But the staff liked his upside, and the early reviews have been strong.
"Far more athletic than one might imagine. Very underrated," a source said.
Speaking of the defensive line, it seems the idea is starting to sink in with everyone that five-star Zion Elee, the No. 2 player in the Class of 2026, is firmly committed to Maryland. Check out Brian Dohn's latest update from today.
Maryland's other top local five-star target, Immanuel Iheanacho, was back on campus last weekend for the Northwestern basketball game. I wouldn't categorize him as a lock, but I will be surprised if he commits elsewhere.
I've been asked a lot whether Maryland will hold a spring game this year. There's a growing trend of coaches canceling theirs to keep poachers from window shopping their rosters. Given Mike Locksley's focus on keeping things under wraps, it seemed possible he could join that group. But a university source said on Friday that Maryland still plans to hold the game, though no date or details have been announced yet.
