Recruiting Roundup: April 27, 2015

The Maryland Terrapins’ football team wrapped up their spring camp a few weeks ago with the playing of the annual Red-White Spring Game, but recruiting for the class of 2016 has been very much underway for months now. This article will give a few updates on the latest additions to Maryland’s recruiting class, and who they’re still in the running for.

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Recent Commitments

Michael Clark

Head coach Randy Edsall and his staff have received four commitments to their 2016 class over the past month, the first being 3-star offensive tackle Michael Clark from Downington East High School in Reading, PA on March 27, 2015. He was the first offensive line recruit to commit to the class, but certainly not the last. Edsall and offensive coordinator Mike Locksley prefer very tall offensive tackles, and Clark fits that mold at 6-foot-7. The only other scholarship offers he held when he committed to Maryland were from South Carolina, Wake Forest, and West Virginia. However, he is a very talented young lineman who will just need to add some more weight during his first few years in College Park. He won’t be relied upon to make any sort of an immediate impact, but could play a role on the offensive line in his final few years with the team. Clark is currently the only out-of-state recruit for the Terrapins in their 2016 class so far.

Brian Plummer

The second offensive lineman to commit to Maryland’s 2016 recruiting class was 3-star offensive tackle Brian Plummer from South Carroll Senior High School in Sykesville, MD. Like Clark, Plummer fits the mold of tall offensive tackles that Edsall and Locksley prefer, as he also stands at 6-foot-7. He is already weighing in at around 300 pounds, so his size is extremely good for a high school junior. Maryland had offered him his only scholarship when he committed, but he was receiving interest from Clemson and West Virginia. Like Clark, he won’t need to make an immediate impact in College Park, but could make an impact in his final few years. He was recruited by tight ends coach/recruiting coordinator John Dunn.

Travon Stott

Edsall and his staff have had great success recruiting players out of Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in Olney, MD, and they are hoping that Travon Stott is the next talented Maryland Terrapin to come out of that football powerhouse. Stefon Diggs, Wes Brown, and Jesse Aniebonam are a few of the high-level recruits that have come to College Park by way of Good Counsel, and Stott joins 4-star outside linebacker Keandre Jones as the second member of the 2016 class to come out of the Olney high school. Stott is a 3-star cornerback who fits the mold of taller cornerbacks that defensive coaches across the country are starting to prefer. He stands at 5-foot-11, and Maryland was his only scholarship offer when he committed, though he was receiving some interest from Virginia Tech. He likely won’t be called upon to contribute immediately, but could play a role on special teams in his first few years in College Park.

Joey Fisher

The most recent member of Maryland’s 2016 class is 2-star strong-side defensive end Joey Fisher from Clear Spring High School in Clear Spring, MD. He committed on April 23, 2015, holding just one offer from Maryland when he did so. He was receiving some interest from Michigan State and Tennessee, however. He has good size for a high school junior, at 6-foot-5 and 248 pounds. Now that the Terrapins have moved to a 4-3 defensive scheme under new defensive coordinator Keith Dudzinski, they will keep the players who they recruit as defensive ends at defensive end, instead of moving them to outside linebacker more often than not. Fisher is a very good pass-rusher, and while he isn’t the highest-ranked recruit, certainly has a chance to make a name for himself in his first few years in College Park. He’ll likely start off on special teams, but will have an opportunity for playing time down the road. He was recruited by defensive line coach Chad Wilt.

Remaining Targets

Dwayne Haskins

The first priority for Edsall and his staff is getting a commitment out of 4-star quarterback Dwayne Haskins out of The Bullis School in Potomac, MD. He’s being recruited primarily by defensive line coach Chad Wilt, who recruits that area of Maryland for Edsall. Rutgers is making an interesting push for Haskins as of late, but he still doesn’t seem to be putting them near the top of his list. Maryland’s biggest competition for him seems to be Alabama, who is using excellent recruiter Mario Cristobal and offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin to try to land the talented quarterback. Haskins has expressed a mutual desire with 4-star 2016 wide receiver Trevon Diggs to play together in college. While Haskins seems to have Maryland at the top of his list, Diggs seemingly has Alabama at the top of his. I still expect Haskins to come to Maryland, but the next few weeks will be crucial if Edsall and his staff are to land who would be their best quarterback recruit since they arrived in College Park.

Trevon Diggs

The second priority for the Maryland coaching staff is getting Trevon Diggs to follow in his brother’s footsteps in College Park. He is a 4-star wide receiver from The Avalon School in Rockville, MD, and named Alabama his leader last week. Like Haskins, the Crimson Tide are recruiting Diggs using one of the best recruiters in the country, former FIU head coach Mario Cristobal. They have been making a huge push for his commitment as of late, and Diggs has been sporting Alabama gear at many of the camps that have been taking place lately. Most analysts, including myself, still expect him to end up in College Park, but offensive coordinator Mike Locksley will need to keep his foot on the gas for Diggs’ commitment until he gets one.

Terrance Davis

The DMV area has been producing talented offensive linemen at an alarming rate over the last few years, and Terrance Davis is certainly in that group. He is a 4-star offensive guard from DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, MD, one of the schools that Edsall is extremely close to building a pipeline into. He already has two recruits in his 2016 class from the football powerhouse, but is looking to add a few more, starting with Davis. Locksley is the primary recruiter for the talented lineman, and is primarily competing with Michigan for his commitment. The two schools are essentially neck-and-neck right now. Davis is ranked as the second-best offensive guard in the entire country, and the fourth-best player in the state of Maryland.

Ellison Jordan

On the defensive side of the ball, the Maryland coaching staff has one player at the top of their list: 4-star defensive tackle Ellison Jordan from The Gilman School in Baltimore, MD. He is being recruited by defensive line coach Chad Wilt, who is primarily competing with Penn State and Virginia Tech for Jordan’s commitment. Most analysts, including myself, expect him to end up in College Park. With the Terrapins’ move to a 4-3 defensive scheme, Jordan fits the smaller defensive tackle mold that the scheme prefers.

Tino Ellis

Another very talented player from nearby DeMatha Catholic High School, 4-star wide receiver Tino Ellis would make the potential pipeline a reality for the Terrapins. He has excellent size and speed, and would fit very well as an outside receiver for Locksley’s offense. He has listed Virginia Tech as his leader, but Maryland is very much in the running for his commitment. If he were to commit today, I’d expect him to head to Blacksburg, but Maryland has plenty of time to make a strong push for him.

Keith Simms

Among the players that the Terrapins are recruiting the hardest for their 2016 class, Simms is the one that is most heavily leaning elsewhere. Stanford is currently the favorite for the 4-star outside linebacker from The Landon School in Bethesda, MD. Defensive line coach Chad Wilt is a busy man this off-season, as he is the primary recruiter for Simms as well. He is on the outside looking in, along with teams like Penn State, California, and Wisconsin. Simms would be a very good addition to Dudzinski’s defense, with his excellent speed serving him well as a 4-3 linebacker.