With the recruiting in the class of 2016 pretty much wrapped up, we take a look at the storylines that will impact Maryland in the class of 2017 and take a look at some local prospects the Terps need to keep home.
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Aazaar Abdul-Rahim recruiting ties could be key
New defensive back coach Aazaar Abdul-Rahim, who spent the last two years at Alabama, is one of the strongest recruiters of the Washington metropolitan areas in the country. The ties that he made while coaching high school ball at Friendship Collegiate for a decade could prove crucial in continuing what what is being called “the movement” of keeping the best area talent home. Abdul-Rahim has connections and existing relationships with nearly all the high school coaches and top talent in the area, which could keep the Terps on the radar for prospects that would have immediately passed them up in years past. One school that the new staff will likely focus on in particular is…
DeMatha Catholic High School
The key to Maryland’s success in the 2017 recruiting class could run through a school just a few miles down the road. DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Maryland annually produces some of the best talent in the state and the nation, and 2017 is no exception. Three of the state’s top four prospects, four-star running back Anthony McFarland, four-star defensive end Chase Young and four-star offensive lineman Marcus Minor, are all DeMatha products, and the Stags have plenty of other 2017 talent on the roster including three star wide receiver Delante Hellams, quarterback Beau English and offensive lineman Victor Oluwatimi.
Doing well with DeMatha’s 2017 class would send a serious message for the Terps, who have consistently lost out on top area talent year after year to bigger programs. Maryland could be off to a good start with the Stags. Both McFarland and Young were on campus for unofficial visits on Saturday. This comes on the heels of a strong performance by Maryland with DeMatha’s 2016 class, pulling blue-chip offensive guard Terrance Davis, four-star wide receiver Tino Ellis and three-stars DJ Turner and Lorenzo Harrison. It would not be surprising to see Coach Durkin roaming the halls of DeMatha over the next several months trying to keep its wealth of talent within the beltway.
Building a Pipeline with a Florida Powerhouse
But, Durkin’s only focus won’t be the DMV area. He his also making a move to pull prospects out of talent-rich Florida, as evidenced by the number of Sunshine State recruits he got in the final month of recruiting last cycle. Among the schools Maryland’s new staff is trying to recruit is national football power IMG Academy. In recent weeks Durkin’s staff has extended offers to 2017 four-star center Cesar Ruiz, 2017 four-star defensive tackle Cam Spence (originally from Baltimore), 2018 four-star safety Mike Jones Jr. and mammoth-sized 2018 offensive guard Curtis Dunlap. This all after the Terps have already extended offers to five-star 2017 defensive end Joshua Kaindoh, four-star running back/linebacker Jordan Anthony (originally from Olney), four-star wide receiver Jhamon Ausbon, four-star offensive tackle Robert Hainsey and three-star tight end Tre’ McKitty. They’ve also offered Dylan Moses, the top prospect in the class of 2017, who is transferring to IMG for his final high school season. Durkin has said on multiple occasions that after the DMV, recruiting Florida would be his main focus. It seems that assertion is holding true, and he’s doing something past staffs didn’t always do: go after the top talent from out of state.
Now, we’ll take a look at some of the top local talent in the class of 2017 that Maryland needs to keep home.
QB Kasim Hill, St. John’s
The top in-state quarterback will not be easy for Maryland keep home. The four-star Hill has a college-ready body and the athleticism and arm to be an impact player at the top level. Among schools that have offered Hill are Penn State, Michigan and Michigan State, so in order to keep him home the Terps will have to prove it can out-recruit a few of the Big 10’s top programs. He has recently transferred from Gilman to St. John’s in D.C.
QB Darriel Mack, Norview (Norfolk, VA)
According to 247Sports Maryland is the only school outside of the state of Virginia that has offered Mack, so he is likely a Mike London find, but both Virginia Tech and Virginia have offered. The dual-threat quarterback seems like he would be a great fit in Maryland’s new spread offense. He’s got a decent arm and the athleticism to make plays with his legs. London had the Tidewater area of Virginia on lockdown during his time at UVA, it will be interesting to see if he still does.
RB Anthony McFarland, DeMatha
One of the players listed above, McFarland is one of the most pursued running backs in the nation, boasting offers from the likes of Alabama, Florida State, Clemson, Georgia and pretty much every other school in the nation, so it won’t be easy for the Terps to convince him to spend his college years just a few minutes down the road. But, if the Terps can do well with other DeMatha players in this class, maybe representing his home state with his high school teammates will be too much to turn down.
OL Jordan McNair, McDonogh
Maryland has been cleaning up on the top in-state offensive linemen over the past few years, but the line is a place you can never have too many options. At 6-foot-5, 320 pounds, McNair already has the frame of a Power-5 level lineman. He moves well for a kid of his size, which is going to be key for Walt Bell’s offensive line going forward. It seems like Ohio State really wants him, so it will be interesting to see if Durkin will be able to hold them off of Maryland’s top talent this year.
DE Chase Young, DeMatha
Another one of the DeMatha kids listed above, Young has all the makings of a pass rusher who can make an impact the moment he steps on campus. Like many prospects, he’s going to need to add muscle, but he’s got a great frame and is extremely athletic for his position. If Maryland can get him to College Park I think he sees significant minutes, if not a starting role, right away.
LB Nathan Proctor, Lackey
Another player who needs to add a little bit of bulk but has huge upside. He’s got a very long frame and wraps up tackles well. Pair that with his very good speed and athleticism, and it’s easy to see Proctor occupying opposing backfields for years to come. Based on his tape he would fit well in the “Buck” hybrid linebacker and defensive line position that Durkin likes.
DB Deon Jones, Archbishop Carroll (DC)
The Terps were once on the outside looking in on the talented DB from DC, but, after a push over recent weeks, are right back in the thick of things. Jones currently plays corner, but lacks ideal speed, so he could transition into a safety at the next level. He has excellent ball skills and embraces contact. Having former Archbishop Carroll teammate and Maryland class of 2016 signee Richard Merritt on the roster could help the Terrapins convince Jones to stay home.
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.