The University of Maryland signed 23 players as part of D.J. Durkin’s first recruiting class at Maryland. Here is a breakdown of each prospect and what they can bring to the table.
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QB Tyrrell Pigrome, Clay-Chalkville, Pinson, Ala.
The 2015 Gatorade Alabama Player of the Year brings incredible athleticism to a position of need for the Terrapins. A true spread quarterback, Pigrome could quickly become a fan-favorite in Walt Bell’s fast-paced offense. He needs work on his footwork and throwing motion, but with some coaching he could be a dynamic player in the future. Schools also recruited Pigrome as a wide receiver, so if he doesn’t work out at quarterback he could have a future catching the ball.
QB Max Bortenschlager, Cathedral, Indianapolis, Ind.
Bortenschlager is more of a pro-style quarterback with more prototypical size than Pigrome is, standing at 6-foot-3 and typically doing his damage in the pocket. Bortenschlager is a true field general, commanding the field and keeping his team under control. He’s displayed a strong football mind and an ability to lead, leading his team to the 5-A Indiana State Championship as a junior. While not as good as a fit for Bell’s offense as Pigrome is, Bortenschlager is athletic enough to escape pressure and be a decent weapon in the read-option.
RB Lorenzo Harrison, DeMatha Catholic, Hyattsville, Md.
The pint-sized back packs a big punch in his 5-foot-7, 180 pound frame, displaying the ability to break through contact at the line of scrimmage. Once he is in the open field, Harrison is at his best. He is a very shifty runner that can cut quickly and excels at making defenders miss. One of the fastest players in the class, there aren’t many players that can catch up to Harrison once he hits full speed.
RB LaDerrien Wilson, Kissimmee-Osceola, Kissimmee, Fla.
Standing at 5-foot-11, 215 pounds, Wilson is a downhill runner that seems to relish contact. He is used to running between the tackles, but also has the agility to make players miss around the edge. He has excellent vision and is good at finding the hole at the line of scrimmage and is strong enough to turn a busted play into positive play.
RB Jake Funk, Damascus, Damascus, Md.
The 2015 Gatorade Maryland Player of the Year is coming off a historic final season at Damascus, rushing for 2,866 yards and a state record 52 touchdowns, all while carrying his team to a 14-0 record and a state championship. An early enrollee, Funk will have the advantage of an extra spring to prepare, and while his athleticism isn’t off the charts and he isn’t great at any one thing, he does almost everything well. And, after receiving only two Power 5 offers (Maryland and Wisconsin), Funk comes in with a chip on his shoulder looking to prove people wrong.
WR Tino Ellis, DeMatha Catholic, Hyattsville, Md.
Another star out of DeMatha, Ellis has a chance to make an immediate impact for the Terps next fall. He’s a very good route runner that has above average speed and goes up and gets the ball. He excels on short routes in catch and run situations and is very good at making defenders miss in the open field. As a bonus, he has been playing against FBS-level competition his entire high school career, which will help make his transition a little easier.
WR DJ Turner, DeMatha Catholic, Hyattsville, Md.
The 5-foot-9 Turner is lightning quick, a trait that will help him see early playing time with the Terrapins. With his speed, Turner has the ability to hit a home run any time he touches the ball and the versatility to play multiple positions, whether on special teams, as a slot receiver or out of the backfield. He also brings a winning attitude that Maryland badly needs after winning three straight WCAC championships with DeMatha.
TE Noah Barnes, Auburn HS, Auburn, Ala.
At 6-foot-4, 225 pounds, Barnes brings good size and athleticism to the Terps. Used primarily as a blocker in high school, Barnes is a nice addition to new offensive coordinator Walt Bell’s offense, which often relies on blocking around the edge. In his tape Barnes displays soft hands, but he’ll need to improve his route running and could take a few years to develop into an every-down player. Also one of the premier long snappers in the nation, Barnes could play a large role on special teams during his time in College Park. It is likely however, that he takes a redshirt.
OG Terrance Davis, DeMatha Catholic, Hyattsville, Md.
One of the elite offensive linemen in the country, Davis is one of the biggest gets for D.J. Durkin in his first recruiting class. Standing at 6-foot-3, 320 pounds, he already has a college-ready body while maintaining elite mobility. While it is unlikely that he will see time as a starter because coaches are reluctant to give first-year linemen significant minutes and because of Maryland’s existing talent on the line, the Under Armour All-American is probably the most talented player in Maryland’s class.
OG Richard Merritt, Archbishop Carroll, Washington, D.C.
Another elite offensive line commit from the WCAC for the Terrapins, Merritt is another name that should be a star in a couple of years. He’s very powerfully built and moves well for a player of his size. According to Maryland Offensive Line Coach Dave Borbely, the Terps could use Merritt either at guard or at tackle.
OT Terek Zingale, Nordonia, Macedonia, Ohio
Standing at 6-foot-5, 285 pounds, a year in Maryland’s strength and conditioning program will do wonders for Zingale. According to Borbely, Zingale’s versatility will help him at the next level, where he can play any position on the offensive line
OT Brian Plummer, South Carroll, Sykesville, Md.
One of the better offensive linemen in the state of Maryland, Plummer excels in the run game. He is strong enough to handle the bruising defensive lines of the Big 10, but athletic enough to block in the second level. Because of the talent level that the Terps have on the line, he’ll probably redshirt, but with his size and skill he’ll be a name to watch a few years down the road.
DE Dion Goldbourne, Atlantic Community HS, Delray Beach, Fla.
Maryland’s only defensive line commit in the class has only been playing football for one year, but made a huge impact, getting 17 sacks against high-level competition in Florida. He’s going to need a year of bulking up in the weight room, but with his athleticism and some added strength, he could be a force to be reckoned with as an edge rusher.
LB Brett Shepherd, Collins Hill, Buford, Ga. NA
Holding a very impressive offer list for an unrated player, Shepherd chose Maryland over Iowa, Mississippi State, Missouri and North Carolina, among others. He has great size and speed, and a year in the weight room could make him a player no back wants to take a hit from. The best part for Maryland is that he is still quite raw in terms of reads and the paths he takes to his tackles, so he has tremendous upside.
LB Antoine Brooks, DuVal, Lanham, Md.
Standing at just 5-foot-11, 185 pounds, Brooks looks more like a defensive back than a linebacker at this point in his career, so he’ll definitely need to spend some significant time in the weight room. A freak athlete, he plays much bigger than his listed size and has a chip on his shoulder for those who underestimate him. Brooks will likely redshirt.
CB Tyrek Tisdale, Oak Ridge, Orlando, Fla.
An iron man in high school, Tisdale played both quarterback and defensive back. He’s got great size for the cornerback position and he’s a good enough athlete. He needs to work on his reads and sometimes he can be overaggressive, which can lead to big plays for the other team, but his experience at the QB position gives him an advantage other defensive backs don’t have.
CB Antwaine Richardson, Atlantic Community HS, Delray Beach, Fla.
A former Michigan commit, Richardson followed Durkin from the Wolverines to College Park. Richardson is an elite athlete and has good size for the cornerback position. A lack of experience in the defensive backfield could lead to early playing time in nickel and dime sets.
CB Travon Stott, Good Counsel, Olney, Md.
A prototypical cover corner, Stott does well in both man-to-man and zone defenses. He’s got decent speed, but sometimes struggles against bigger receivers. He comes from a high school known for producing great college talent, a pipeline the Terps hope they can take advantage of.
CB Elisha Daniels, Cardinal Gibbons HS, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Another big cornerback from the Sunshine state, Daniels also has experience as a quarterback. He makes good reads and is good at jumping routes, but he can overcommit on a receiver’s first cut allowing them to get open. He will battle for a backup spot in camp, but it’s possible he sees a redshirt next year.
S Elijah Daniels, Cardinal Gibbons HS, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
The first thing that you notice when watch his tape is how hard Daniels hits. He delivers punishment on almost every play, and tackles with good form, wrapping up the ball carrier and driving them to the ground. He played against elite competition throughout high school, and with Maryland’s lack of experience at the safety position, Daniels could get immediate playing time with a good camp.
S Qwuantrezz Knight, East Gadsden HS, Havana, Fla.
Yet another defensive back from Florida, Knight comes in with less fanfare than his fellow statesmen, but he adds depth to an area where the Terps badly need it. He needs to improve in almost all aspects of pass coverage and become quicker at recognizing plays, but he is very good in run support. A year in a college-level strength and conditioning program will also do him a lot of good. He will probably take a redshirt year.
P Wade Lees, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia
Lees will probably have the biggest immediate impact of anyone in this year’s recruiting class. The 27-year old who has spent the past several years punting in Australia will be the favorite to win the starting job and attempt to help improve the Terrapins’ abysmal 37 yards per punt average last year.
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.