Commitment Date: June 17, 2012
Hometown: Baltimore, MD
High School: Catonsville High School
Height: 5’8″
Weight: 170 lbs.
ESPN Rank: #107 CB, 2-star
Scout.com Rank: N/A, 2-star RB
Rivals Rank: N/A, 2-star ATH
247Sports Rank: #158 ATH, 2-star
40 time: 4.61 secs. (ESPN); 4.4 secs. (Rivals); 4.38 secs. (247Sports); N/A (Scout.com)
Other Offers: None.
A recruit with a very local flair to him, DeAndre Lane is a very versatile and athletic player who can play multiple positions. Lane attended Catonsville High School, located just north of Baltimore. He has one skill that really stands out: his speed. While the various recruiting sites differ on his exact 40 time, most put it between 4.3 and 4.5 seconds. Lane predominantly played running back and slot-reciever in high school, but also played some cornerback. This is what got him the “athlete” designation from Rivals and 247Sports.
While it’s tough to put a finger on exactly what role he will play with the Terps in the future, it’s easy to see that he has extremely good speed. That speed really helps him with whatever position he ends up playing. Speed is really something that comes naturally, but other aspects of the game (ball skills, route running, etc.) you can work on to get better at them. Lane also has really good instincts, and if he uses them well, that can really help him at the collegiate level as well.
Maryland was the only FBS or FCS school to offer Lane a scholarship. While West Virginia, Wake Forest, N.C. State, Rutgers, Temple, and Virginia also showed some interest, none of them offered him a scholarship. But the Terps really like what they see from him. From what he told Matt Bracken of the Baltimore Sun, the coaches want him to play in his freshman year on kick returns and on offense. If the Terps want to put two players deep on kick returns, Lane would be a perfect fit to join Stefon Diggs.
All in all, this is simply another depth addition by the Terps. With his speed, DeAndre Lane looks to be a guy who can play a solid role for the team moving forward. With his speed, it would seem that he would be best fit for playing offense in a running back/slot receiver role. But he also provides depth in the defensive backfield if the Terps ever need him there. He can also play a big role in the kick return game if Stefon Diggs ever gets injured or the Terps decide to use two kick returners at the same time.
Terps Analyst
Zack is a financial analyst for a defense contractor in Washington, DC. The Owings Mills native focuses most of his efforts on Maryland Football recruiting and individual coach and player pieces; but also covers Terps Basketball. He has established relationships with Big Ten beat reporters across the conference, which he utilizes in his game previews. Now a Sr. Terps Analyst for BSL, Zack can be reached at: zack.kiesel@baltimoresportsandlife.com.