Updating Terps Football Recruiting

To get an update on University of Maryland’s Terrapins Football recruiting, Baltimore Sports and Life (BSL) has reached out to several National Analysts for their thoughts.

Our thanks Brandon Huffman (The National Scouting Director for Scout.com), and Tom Lemming (Editor of Prep Football Magazine) for contributing.

(You can discuss this on the BSL Board here.)

BSL: Maryland’s new Head Coach DJ Durkin has established a staff of quality recruiters and coaches (Aazaar Abdul-Rahim, Chris Beatty, Walt Bell, Pete Lembo, Mike London) who are having some immediate recruiting success (Maryland’s 2017 Class is currently 11 deep, and ranked 20th Nationally in the 247Sports Composite Ranking).

There is plenty of talent within 2 hours of College Park. The new Cole Field House will be one of the premier indoor facilities in Athletics. Obviously there is the tremendous relationship with Under Armour.

Do you view Maryland as a program on the rise? Beyond the facility investment, what else off the field do you believe Maryland has to address to build a team capable of regular contention in the Big Ten East?

Huffman: It really should be a program on the rise.  The DMV has the talent, now the key is keeping it there.  We saw what Ralph Friedgen accomplished there, so it can absolutely be done.  But the big key is keeping the recruits home and stop letting the ACC or Big Ten schools poach it.  The more they keep close, the better they will be and the quicker they’ll be on the rise.  The recruiting lifeline of any program is home-grown players and Maryland has to address that.  Then work their way South or East/West.  The better the homegrown talent, the better players in the future buy in. And the better success you have WITH the home-grown talent, the quicker you get to that goal.

Lemming: Maryland is not only a team on the rise but it is the nations sleeping giant. If the coaching staff can continue to do what they’re doing this year there’s a good chance they will become a national power.

BSL: While the Terps are off to a good start with their ’17 Class, these are just verbals for now, and these players can obviously change their mind. Of the current verbals, are there any players you don’t expect to eventually sign with MD?

Huffman: Right now, I like their chances of holding on to everyone, but Josh Kaindoh will be the one they really have to stay on.  He’s a top ten player at his position nationally and now that he’s at IMG, a school loaded with talent and a frequent stop by college coaches, he’s still being heavily pursued by many, with Notre Dame really turning up the heat.  So Maryland needs to keep him as a priority and stave off the other schools that are hitting IMG hard at a number of positions.

Lemming: Right now it looks like all of them real sign. However it’s tough getting into the mind of a 17-year-old and surprises happen annually we’re just about every team

BSL: Due to the last several recruiting classes, Maryland is entering this 2016 season with good talent and depth on their O-Line. (With ’17 verbal Jordan McNair adding to those recent O-Line hauls.) However, the D-Line remains a bit thin. The good news for the Terps is that there will be a talent infusion on that side of the line next year if the current ’17 verbals hold. Joshua Kaindoh is a 5 star DE, Cam Spence is a 4 star DT. It’s difficult for most Freshman to make a seamless transition to the College game, especially Lineman. While knowing that, are Kaindoh and Spence the type of talents that will have the chance for immediate playing time in ’17?

Huffman: Both absolutely have the ability to come in and play right away.  The big key for them will be, as it always is with defensive linemen, is if they’re physically ready.  Plenty of players have the skill set to come in and play right away, but the jump from going against high school linemen to college linemen is huge so just because you have the quickness or athleticism, doesn’t mean you have the strength.  If both Spence and Kaindoh keep adding good weight and strength, with their skillset, they should be instant impact guys.

Lemming: I would be greatly surprised if both players not only contribute but don’t become impact players by the end of their freshman year.

BSL: The Terps are chasing some other high end D-lineman such as Chase Young (DeMatha), Joshua Paschal (Good Counsel), Tyree Johnson (St. John’s), and Victor Dimukeje (Boys Latin). Of that quartet, who do you think is most likely to choose Maryland?

Huffman: I’d say that Paschal is the most likely of that group to sign with Maryland.  But that’s why this year is huge for Durkin.  If they can win early and look competitive the whole season, it could make major in-roads with the in-state kids quickly.

Lemming: Good players attract other good ballplayers but I do not like to guess I’m where players are going because I’m normally wrong. However like I just said with the great players they got committed already there’s a good chance that a least a couple of these players will sign with Maryland

BSL: Maryland has been able to lower the sting of seeing Dwayne Haskins flip to Ohio State, with the late ’16 additions of Tyrrell Pigrome, and Max Bortenschlager, along with the current ’17 verbal of Kasim Hill (St. John’s).  Did you like Pigrome as a fit for the offense OC Walt Bell wants to run? How does Hill compare as a talent with Haskins?

Huffman: Pigrome is definitely a fit for the offense Bell wants to run.  But like with defensive linemen, he’s going to need to get a little stronger.  At just under 6-0 and around 180 pounds, that’s really slight for a quarterback, especially a running quarterback who will get hit more than an ideal sized quarterback.  Hill may not have the all-around game that Haskins did, but he’s got tremendous arm-strength and is one of the best pure-passers in this class.  High football IQ, an intelligent quarterback, he should pick up the offense quickly.

Lemming: I had Ty as one of my three sleepers of the year for my national television show this past January. What he lacks in great size he more than makes up for in superior athletic ability and a high football IQ. I have been talking about him for the past two years

BSL: As with the D-Line, the Secondary is a position of need. Recent addition Deon Jones (Potomac) was a huge get. Thoughts on previous pickup Fofie Bazzie? Maryland is also in the running for Tariq Castro-Fields (Riverdale Baptist). Maryland’s chances there?

Huffman: Bazzie has good length and is pretty physical.  His top-end speed isn’t great, but he does show good recovery ability.  He could be a swing DB too.  Castro-Fields has Maryland on his real short list and most feel he’ll stay in-state, but schools like Alabama, Penn State and Virginia Tech are making a push for him too.

Lemming: I met Jones at Archbishop Carroll when he was a freshman. You could see he was already an impact player. Castro’s not far behind

BSL: Another local that many are excited about is Chase Young’s DeMatha teammate Anthony McFarland Jr. (RB/Athlete). Do you think MD will be able to lock-up the in-State product?

Huffman: McFarland is a realistic get for the Terps, but Alabama, Miami, Texas A&M, those schools are pushing hard to get him too.  However, Maryland will also get him to take an official, which is big because it shows a legit chance, especially as local kids often pass on visiting the local schools they’re familiar with.

Lemming: Like I said before I don’t like to guess on ballplayers but the terrapins are doing a great job in the state and DeMatha is a priority. Yes they have a good chance. If they get off to a great start on the field they Will have an even better chance.

BSL: Four offensive weapons have been added out of the South so far in this ’17 Class – WR’s Sean Nelson, and Carlos Carriere from Georgia, WR MJ Jarrell out of Florida, and TE Andrew Park from Virginia. Is there any one player from that group which particularly interests you?

Huffman: I think Carriere intrigues me the most.  He’s 6-5 but still pretty slight, but is a long-strider with a big catch radius and pretty good speed for how long he is.  Put some weight on him and he’s going to be a matchup problem for a lot of DB’s.

Lemming: No all are good solid players. None are difference makers.

BSL: What’s a plausible best case finish for MD’s ’17 Class in terms of realistic targets, and a final National ranking (general range)?

Huffman: Right now, they’re in the top 25 with just 11 commits.  It’s not unrealistic to think they could end up with a Top 25 class.  Lock up some of the in-state bigtimers and win, and they could reasonably end up in the Top 20.

Lemming: They no doubt have a chance at a top 10 finish if they continue their way they’re going.