With just under a week to go until National Signing Day, here is a look at how D.J. Durkin’s first recruiting class at Maryland is shaping up.

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

Three-star quarterback gaining support among Terps and commits
Since the decommitment of four-star quarterback Dwayne Haskins just over a week ago a hot name in the University of Maryland’s search for a 2016 signal caller has been Ramar Williams. The three-star prospect out of Bishop McNamara High School in Forestville, Maryland has been visited by new Terrapins’ coach D.J. Durkin, and has also been the center of a Twitter campaign by current UMD players and recruits to get him an offer.

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Among those that tweeted support for Williams was Trevon Diggs, who committed to Alabama in November. The Terps have been trying to flip the four-star prospect for some time and a commitment from Williams may help them get the second Diggs brother to College Park.

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And, Williams sent out a tweet hinting that the pair could be a package deal.

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Williams is second in Maryland high school history with 8,659 passing yards, and likely would have passed the record of 9,090 if he hadn’t been injured for several games during his senior season. The 6-foot-1, 180 pound playmaker finished his high school career with 73 touchdown passes and added 2,088 yards on the ground.

The Terps are also after three-star quarterbacks Lindsey Scott out of Louisiana and Tyrrell Pigrome out of Alabama but will be competing with LSU and Virginia Tech for their respective signatures.

Maryland has also offered Nicholls State commit Chase Fourcade. New UMD Offensive Coordinator Walt Bell was recruiting Fourcade during his time at Arkansas State and already has a prior relationship with him.

Even if he wasn’t to come to Maryland as a quarterback, Williams has expressed interest as an athlete, and with his support among current players and recruits and his strong ties in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference, it would be well worth the offer to give him a chance to prove himself.

Three-star Florida DB commits to Terps
Three-star cornerback Antwaine Richardson committed to play for Maryland on Tuesday night according to a post on his Twitter account.

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Richardson is a former Michigan commit, but was primarily recruited by new Maryland head coach D.J. Durkin, who served as the Wolverines defensive coordinator last season. The addition of Richardson adds another talented DB and depth to a much-needed position, but, most importantly for the Terps, he is the fifth commit from Florida in a week, joining defensive lineman Aaron Thompson, running back LaDerrien Wilson and defensive backs Elisha and Elijah Daniels. One of Durkin’s goals in recruiting was to focus on the south and specifically the state of Florida, something that seems to be working out well. I can mean nothing but good things for Maryland if Durkin can continue use the connections he made during his time at the University of Florida to pull talent out of the Sunshine state. And speaking of Durkin recruiting Florida…

Maryland offers 2016 DE from the Sunshine State
The Terrapins offered defensive end Dion Goldbourne from Delray Beach, Florida earlier this week. According to a tweet by his high school, Goldbourne also has offers from Florida International and Toldeo, and is receiving interest from Kansas State. Maryland is certainly the biggest name after him right now, and the Terps have an inside edge. Goldbourne is high school teammates with Antwaine Richardson (see above), who committed to Maryland earlier this week.

Based on his build and game tape, Durkin could be planning to utilize Goldbourne as a linebacker if he commits. He shows good speed and agility, and without a lot of bulking up, he would be extremely undersized to take on the the offensive linemen of the Big 10. So far Maryland has no linebacker commits in the class of 2016 and it is looking more and more like one won’t come before signing day.

Maryland makes top five for three-star FL WR
Durkin’s staff continues to roll through the state of Florida on the recruiting trail making the top five for three-star wide receiver Dredrick Snelson along with Central Florida, Miami, Minnesota and Penn State.

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Snelson has previously been committed to Miami and then Minnesota, but has since backed out of the pledges. Snelson is close friends with former Minnesota commits Elisha and Elijah Daniels who flipped to Maryland last week, and with the way Durkin is pulling recruits out of Florida since taking over at UMD, it would be no surprise to see Snelson in College Park next year.

Updated List of 2016 Commitments
RB LaDerrien Wilson, Osceola (FL)
RB Lorenzo Harrison, DeMatha Catholic
RB Jake Funk, Damascus
TE Noah Barnes, Auburn (AL)
WR Tino Ellis, DeMatha Catholic
WR D.J. Turner, DeMatha Catholic
OT Terek Zingale, Nordonia (OH)
OT Brian Plummer, South Carroll
OG Terrance Davis, DeMatha Catholic
OG Richard Merritt, Archbishop Carroll
DT Aaron Thompson, Dillard (FL)
CB Antwaine Richardson, Atlantic (FL)
CB Travon Stott, Good Counsel
CB Elisha Daniels, Cardinal Gibbons (FL)
S Elijah Daniels, Cardinal Gibbons (FL)
P Wade Lees, Australia

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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