COLLEGE PARK, Md. – University of Maryland Head Coach Michael Locksley announced that 23 student-athletes have signed national letters of intent to play football for the Terrapins during the early signing period, which began on Wednesday.
The 2020 class is currently ranked No. 26 by Rivals, No. 27 by 247 Sports and No. 31 by ESPN. It’s highlighted by a pair of ESPN300 selections, five star wide receiver Rakim Jarrett and four star linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II. Jarrett is ranked as the second best wide receiver and No. 21 overall player in the country according to ESPN. He’s the highest rated Maryland signee since Stefon Diggs in 2012.
"We’ve been able to add some really good players to a foundation of good players we have coming back,” said Locksley. “With that, that’s where my excitement starts. This is the type of the class we expect to be able to recruit here year-in and year-out. Hopefully we’re able to show our fans and everyone who loves the Terps that we’re moving in the right direction."
The 23 student-athletes hail from 12 different states. Seven signees are from Florida, while four are from Maryland and two each from Texas and New Jersey. The Terps added 10 players on offense (5 offensive linemen, 3 wide receivers, 2 running backs) and 13 players on defense (6 defensive backs, 4 defensive linemen and 3 linebackers).
Nine signees will enroll early and participate in spring practice – Jakorian Bennett, Beau Brade, Johari Branch, Ja’Khi Green, Hyppolite II, TJ Kauti, Devyn King, DeaJuan McDougle and Shane Mosley. The class also features five players from the Junior College ranks and 14 players that won state titles during their time in high school.
The early signing period extends until Friday and the remainder of Maryland’s 2020 signing class will be announced on February 5.
What They’re Saying About Maryland’s Recruiting Class…
"The crown jewel of Maryland’s recruiting class is five star wide receiver Rakim Jarrett. Flipping him from LSU on signing day was a marquee recruiting win for Coach Locksley. A player with his skill set should see the field very early and his impact on the offense will be sizeable. Maryland has also done a good job restocking their backfield with talented ball carriers after seeing Anthony McFarland and Javon Leake head to the NFL. Four-star running backs Peny Boone and Isaiah Jacobs should see the field early and often but the top priority for the Terps in this recruiting class was signing a lot of quality offensive and defensive linemen and they’ve certainly done that. Four of the six offensive linemen in this class are at least 6-foot-5 and that should help address the size discrepancies upfront between Maryland and the rest of the Big Ten teams. Adding four interior defensive linemen will really help solidify the core of Maryland’s defense. Replenishing the secondary was also a major focus for the staff in this recruiting cycle and players like Tarheeb Still should help quickly fill holes in the defense."
--Adam Friedman, Rivals.com Mid-Atlantic Recruiting Analyst
"Mike Locksley and his staff constructed this recruiting class with a good blend of high school prospects and junior college recruits who can provide an impact right away. The junior college prospects are at premium positions with defensive tackles Ami Finau, who is in the ESPN JC 50, and Mosiah Nasili-Kite and offensive lineman Johari Branch and cornerback Jakorian Bennett. The class is ranked in the top-35 of the ESPN class rankings and has playmakers on both offense and defense, starting with ESPN 300 linebacker Ruben Hyppolite and four-stars Deajaun McDougle and Ebony Jackson. Flipping ESPN 300 wide receiver Rakim Jarrett, the No. 2 receiver in the class, from LSU was a big win for Locksley and the program. Adding in a playmaker such as Jarrett, and also adding in running back Isaiah Jacobs, will give this future offense more weapons and some added talent.”
--Tom VanHaaren, ESPN College Football & Recruiting Reporter
“It was just a matter of time for Maryland. They are going to gain ground in that area quick under Mike Locksley. This is a really, really good staff. They are really in tune with what recruits want. They can see the potential that if we go
ahead and turn this thing around and get Maryland back to what it used to be, players are going to buy into it. This to me (the signing of Rakim Jarrett), is the biggest news of the day.”
--Howard Griffith, BTN College Football Analyst
The 2020 class is currently ranked No. 26 by Rivals, No. 27 by 247 Sports and No. 31 by ESPN. It’s highlighted by a pair of ESPN300 selections, five star wide receiver Rakim Jarrett and four star linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II. Jarrett is ranked as the second best wide receiver and No. 21 overall player in the country according to ESPN. He’s the highest rated Maryland signee since Stefon Diggs in 2012.
"We’ve been able to add some really good players to a foundation of good players we have coming back,” said Locksley. “With that, that’s where my excitement starts. This is the type of the class we expect to be able to recruit here year-in and year-out. Hopefully we’re able to show our fans and everyone who loves the Terps that we’re moving in the right direction."
The 23 student-athletes hail from 12 different states. Seven signees are from Florida, while four are from Maryland and two each from Texas and New Jersey. The Terps added 10 players on offense (5 offensive linemen, 3 wide receivers, 2 running backs) and 13 players on defense (6 defensive backs, 4 defensive linemen and 3 linebackers).
Nine signees will enroll early and participate in spring practice – Jakorian Bennett, Beau Brade, Johari Branch, Ja’Khi Green, Hyppolite II, TJ Kauti, Devyn King, DeaJuan McDougle and Shane Mosley. The class also features five players from the Junior College ranks and 14 players that won state titles during their time in high school.
The early signing period extends until Friday and the remainder of Maryland’s 2020 signing class will be announced on February 5.
What They’re Saying About Maryland’s Recruiting Class…
"The crown jewel of Maryland’s recruiting class is five star wide receiver Rakim Jarrett. Flipping him from LSU on signing day was a marquee recruiting win for Coach Locksley. A player with his skill set should see the field very early and his impact on the offense will be sizeable. Maryland has also done a good job restocking their backfield with talented ball carriers after seeing Anthony McFarland and Javon Leake head to the NFL. Four-star running backs Peny Boone and Isaiah Jacobs should see the field early and often but the top priority for the Terps in this recruiting class was signing a lot of quality offensive and defensive linemen and they’ve certainly done that. Four of the six offensive linemen in this class are at least 6-foot-5 and that should help address the size discrepancies upfront between Maryland and the rest of the Big Ten teams. Adding four interior defensive linemen will really help solidify the core of Maryland’s defense. Replenishing the secondary was also a major focus for the staff in this recruiting cycle and players like Tarheeb Still should help quickly fill holes in the defense."
--Adam Friedman, Rivals.com Mid-Atlantic Recruiting Analyst
"Mike Locksley and his staff constructed this recruiting class with a good blend of high school prospects and junior college recruits who can provide an impact right away. The junior college prospects are at premium positions with defensive tackles Ami Finau, who is in the ESPN JC 50, and Mosiah Nasili-Kite and offensive lineman Johari Branch and cornerback Jakorian Bennett. The class is ranked in the top-35 of the ESPN class rankings and has playmakers on both offense and defense, starting with ESPN 300 linebacker Ruben Hyppolite and four-stars Deajaun McDougle and Ebony Jackson. Flipping ESPN 300 wide receiver Rakim Jarrett, the No. 2 receiver in the class, from LSU was a big win for Locksley and the program. Adding in a playmaker such as Jarrett, and also adding in running back Isaiah Jacobs, will give this future offense more weapons and some added talent.”
--Tom VanHaaren, ESPN College Football & Recruiting Reporter
“It was just a matter of time for Maryland. They are going to gain ground in that area quick under Mike Locksley. This is a really, really good staff. They are really in tune with what recruits want. They can see the potential that if we go
ahead and turn this thing around and get Maryland back to what it used to be, players are going to buy into it. This to me (the signing of Rakim Jarrett), is the biggest news of the day.”
--Howard Griffith, BTN College Football Analyst
