We’ve reached the halfway point of the 2017 recruiting cycle and so far things are looking good for the Terps. Very Good. D.J. Durkin’s first class at Maryland was a big success, even with the decommitments of Dwayne Haskins and Deandre Jones, and so far his second class is looking even better. We’ve outlined how Maryland recruiting has improved under Durkin here.

(Discuss this on the BSL Board here.)

While the Terrapins’ recruiting is looking good at the midway point, there is a long way to go until national signing day. Here we will break down how Maryland is doing in different position groups and where it needs to go from here.

Offense

Backfield

Four-star quarterback Kasim Hill gives Maryland the blue-chip under center that’s been missing in College Park for so long and gives Terps’ fans hope that even if quarterback play is as bad this year as it was last, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. And while Hill is the star of this backfield, last weekend UMD added a pair of high three-star running backs in Tayon Fleet-Davis and Javon Leake. Fleet-Davis gives the Terps their power back for the class and Leake is a versatile athlete who should do well in Walt Bell’s offense. Now if the Terps can convince DeMatha star Anthony McFarland to stay home, this could be the best Maryland backfield we’ve seen in years.

Offensive Line

A group that has been the strength of Maryland’s recruiting classes the last several years, the Terps only have two big uglies on board so far, but they’re good ones. Four-star Jordan McNair was one of this class’s earliest commits, pulling the trigger in April, and three-star center Johnny Jordan, who committed over the weekend, is widely considered one of the most underrated lineman in the nation. It would be huge if the Terps can keep DeMatha’s Marcus Minor from a host of power conference suitors and add another lineman or two, like 6-foot-7, 345 pound Mekhi Becton.

Receivers and Tight Ends

Durkin has been going after taller receivers so far and it’s working out big time. Commits TE Andrew Park and WR Carlos Carriere are both 6-foot-5 and MJ Jarrell and Sean Nelson are both 6-foot-2 with a lot of talent. The Terps are still in the mix Tajh Capehart, who stands *just* 5-foot-10, but is one of the top receivers in the country. Capehart will make his decision on Saturday morning.

Defense

Defensive Line

In terms of star power, this is the best unit so far. DE Joshua Kaindoh and DT Cam Spence can both come in and compete for immediate playing time from the moment they step on campus. And while missing out on DeMatha stud Chase Young hurt, especially since he’s going to Ohio State, the Terps have plenty of other options. DE Joshua Paschal is a blue chip that could make a dangerous one-two punch with Kaindoh, and Tyree Johnson and Lawtez Rogers are a couple of other local options that could make an impact.

Linebackers

A position which was a weakness in the 2016 class is once again looking like a weakness. Ayinde Eley is a great athlete with good size and skill, but he is the only LB commit so far. The Terps have heard some good news recently though, when they made the top 12 for four-star Drew Singleton. Georgia LB Malik Horton was on campus over the weekend and is expected to choose Maryland, and the Terps are very much in the mix for four-stars Jordan Anthony and Nathan Proctor. One good day and this weakness could easily turn into a strength.

Secondary

Deon Jones is a stud who should help soften the blow of losing Will Likely next year and Fofie Bazzie is a nice player who will compete for time. Maryland is the favorite for local CB Tariq Castro-Fields, who holds offers from Alabama, Penn State and Virginia Tech, among others, and is also expected to get Kenny Bennett, a big corner from Georgia. At the safety position Maryland is in the mix with George Hunter out of Florida and JuCo Tareke Lewis.

Special Teams

Going to be honest with this one, I don’t know much about kickers. To be good you have to be able to get the ball through the uprights with the opposing team running at you. It looks like Jonathan Doerer, who committed to Maryland last weekend can do that.

Andrew Feather
Andrew Feather

Andrew Feather is a multimedia journalist from the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area. Currently a broadcast journalism major at Elon University in Elon, N.C., Feather serves as the Assistant Sports Director of Elon Local News, the school’s award winning, student-run news broadcast.

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