Q&A: 2016 Terps Recruiting Class

“The Movement” is real for Maryland and its football recruiting efforts in the D.M.V. With the a few of the commitments so far in the 2016 recruiting class, Randy Edsall, Mike Locksley and the Terps are establishing a foundation for the future.

With commitments like 4-star quarterback Dwayne Haskins and 4-star linebacker Keandre Jones, players seem to be wanting to stay and play collegiate football in their home state. Haskins is essentially serving as an additional recruiter for the Terps and trying to sway guys like ATH Trevon Diggs, OG Terrance Davis, and WR Tino Ellis to stay in Maryland and join him with the Terps.

As it currently stands, here are the current rankings for Maryland’s class.

Rivals.com: No. 30

247Sports.com: No. 33

For some analysis on the 2016 Terps recruiting class, we did a Q&A with college football recruiting analysts from multiple sports outlets. Here is a Q&A with Adam Friedman (Mid-Atlantic Region, Rivals.com), Tom VanHaaren (Big Ten Recruiting Analyst, ESPN), Steve Wiltfong (Director of Recruiting, 247Sports), and Brian Dohn (National Analyst, Scout.com).

(Discuss on the BSL board here)

Q: How do you feel about Maryland’s 2016 recruiting class as it currently stands?

Friedman: You’ve got to like what they’ve done so far. It kind of starts and ends with Dwayne Haskins, he’s the key to this whole class for them. Getting him then even before that getting Keandre Jones, a Rivals top 100 linebacker from Good Council is a big move for them. Picking up a lot of the big time players in the D.M.V. is really important for Maryland.

Wiltfong: I like it. They continue to solidify up front on offense and they’re bringing in the best pure passer at the quarterback position in the country. They got some playmakers in the class which is something that they really need because they’ve lost some of their top playmakers. Led by Darryl Turner, they’re bringing in some dynamic weapons.

Dohn: I think it is a mixed bag. The Terps landed some nice in-state prospects and in some instances did a good job of identifying kids early. They found D.J. Turner and moved on him before others would, and they got on Keandre Jones early. That said, they still missed on some of the big-time talents in their backyard.

VanHaaren: I think it’s a strong class given the situation they’re in. The coaches still have the task of showing kids they can compete within the Big Ten and that can be a slow process given the season is only 12 games long.

Adding Dwayne Haskins and Keandre Jones were so crucial for this class and I think with those two on board they could catapult up to a really, really good class on signing day. Those two are going to be instrumental in helping to recruit other big name kids to boost the class up to that level.

Q: What are your thoughts on QB Dwayne Haskins?

Friedman: When he gets to Maryland, he’s got a better technique and is a more fluid passer than any quarterback they already have on campus right now. His ability to play early will largely depend on how quickly he can get physically ready and learn the playbook. Right now as a quarterback, his throwing motion is great, his technique is great, he’s got very good footwork, but he needs to progress physically and he just needs to understand the playbook. That will determine how quickly he can contribute on the field.

Wiltfong: I think he’s the best pure passer in the country for this recruiting class. He’s a polished football player that gives you an opportunity to really be dynamic in the passing game. He’s certainly in the discussion for the best quarterback in the country and from the standpoint of if he becomes what I think he can be at Maryland, your best player from the D.M.V. at that position, that’s very high-profile and that’s something that should help recruiting not only this year, but down the road.

Dohn: I like him a lot, which is why he is our No. 2 quarterback in the East. He has very good arm strength, he gets rid of the ball on time and he is very accurate within 15 yards of the line of scrimmage, and that is not to say his accuracy lacks beyond 15 yards.

VanHaaren: Adding Dwayne Haskins to this class was a huge, huge deal for Maryland. I recently said in an article that given Dwayne’s personality, talent level and Maryland’s situation that he could be the most important commit for any school.

I think he’s that important for the future on the field but also who he’ll be able to help recruit. He is going to be a big help in keeping some of the local kids home. He might be able to help bring in a few higher ranked guys that Maryland might have missed on without Haskins in the fold, too.

I think Haskins is the future face of Maryland football. You get to know him and his personality and he has the total package.

Q: What does it mean for Maryland’s program to get a player like him to stay in state?

Friedman: It’s huge, this can actually bring some credibility to the movement. Yes they got Adam McLean, yes they got Keandre Jones and a couple other guys, but the movement is real and Haskins really solidified that, not only with the 2016 class, but the 2017 class and even the 2018 class. We’ll just have to see how Maryland is able to continue that progress.

Wiltfong: It’s big in his instance because every school in the country wanted to sign him and it’s the most important position on the football field, and they landed him. Then the domino effect is people want to play with good players. Especially if he goes to Maryland and performs like I think he’s going to perform, that will really help down the road, because people will want to play with a guy like that. Then people from the D.M.V. will see that this a guy who stayed home and flourished and really helped raise the level for Maryland.

Dohn: To me, it means the Terps got a very good player and the top target on their board at the position. It’s a great get because he is very good. That he is in-state is nice, but so far we have not seen the flood of recruits many people thought he would bring.

Q: Do you think the Terps have a chance at landing Trevon Diggs and do you think they will get him?

Friedman: I think they will eventually get him. Right now he may think that Alabama is the leader, but I think that he ends up with Maryland. He and Haskins have said for a long time that they want to go to school together and play together.

Wiltfong: I think they’re in the top two or three so yeah they certainly have a great shot. Obviously the family connection and comfortability with the coaching staff. Then Trevon and Dwayne are good friends so that’s one guy Dwayne should certainly have a huge impact on in recruiting, Maryland likes Trevon on defense right now. He’s as versatile as any player in America in this class with his ability to be a big time receiver and a big time defensive back.

Dohn: Yes, of course they have a chance, but the longer it goes on, the tougher it will be for Maryland. He was going to choose between Alabama and Maryland, but delayed at the advice of his brother. It means more time for other schools to make an impact.

VanHaaren: I think they have a shot, yes. If I had to guess, I would say he will end up at either Alabama or Maryland, but that’s a guess. He is one of the guys that Haskins will likely make an impact with.

Haskins and Diggs know each other well and have that friendship that could help sway him to Maryland. Diggs doesn’t share much, though, so it’s a waiting game.

Q: How do you feel about OLB Keandre Jones and how will be fit in the Terps’ new 4-3 defense next year?

Friedman: He’ll fit very good. He’s a linebacker that can really cover some ground and he’s got a lot more room to fill out. He’s got the potential to be a major playmaker for Maryland on the defensive side of the ball. I love his upside. He’s got a great nose for the ball, he’s a physical kid, but he’s also really fast and he can read and react quickly.

Wiltfong: He’s a huge kid. He’s a huge upgrade for Maryland at the linebacker position and a guy that’s got a chance to be an all-league player for a couple years at Maryland. That was one that was huge and it worked out for Maryland that he wanted to stay close to home. We invited him to the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, so we really like him.

Dohn: I think he needs time to get stronger and learn the defense. Asking a true freshman to play that much is a tough gig.

VanHaaren: You meet Keandre in person and he almost looks, physically, like Taylor Mays from USC. They’re similar in stature and Jones is listed as an outside linebacker, but he could probably end up being a guy who moves around a little bit depending on need and situation.

I would imagine he will fill out more and stay at linebacker. Because of his athleticism he could be an asset in coverage and his size means he can still help in run situations.

Q: Who are some of the other quality players that stand out to you in the class for Maryland?

Friedman: Definitely Darryl Turner. He’s not the biggest guy, he’s maybe 5’10, but he’s one of the fastest kids in the country. He can play on either side of the ball, he’s great with the ball in his hands, he can quickly read and react on defense. There’s so much you can do with speed like that and the instinct he’s got, I think he can contribute pretty early when he gets on campus as a freshman.

Wiltfong: The best player in the class to me, after Haskins, is Darryl Turner. I absolutely love Darryl Turner. He’s a game-changing receiver slot and return guy that will be an instant impact guy at Maryland. He’s going to play as a true-freshman and he’s going to have the chance to make a play to win a game, because he’s that good.

Dohn: There are plenty of players who are quality, but I like Brian Plummer and Michael Clark. I think both need time to develop better technique but both can be very good players. They are both physical and compete well, and they have athleticism.

VanHaaren: Darryl Turner is an interesting prospect. He’s a receiver from Maryland that doesn’t have great size but has sneaky ability. Turner was at The Opening and went one-on-one with some of the top defensive backs in the country and held his own.

Q: Are there any other “high profile” players still out there that you see the Terps landing?

Friedman: Trevon Diggs is the big one I think. There are a couple of guys they are in play for, but I don’t think they’ll get them. I think a lot of what they can get now is a bonus for them. Also, Terrance Davis (4-star, OG from DeMatha), that another guy Maryland is in on. They could potentially land him at some point, but they’re going ot have to battle hard with Michigan to get him.

Wiltfong: Trevon Diggs is still in play and Tino Ellis (4-star WR from DeMatha). Those are the two that immediately come to mind that I know Maryland is in a great spot for.

VanHaaren: Haskins is working on receiver Tino Ellis, who would be a good get. Ellis was bigger in person than I thought he would be. I saw him at The Opening regional in Washington D.C. and was impressed.

We talked about Diggs as a possibility, potentially offensive lineman Terrance Davis. He is high on Michigan, but the Wolverines are going to be tight on spots if he waits too long.

Q: How do you see Under Armour’s impact on Maryland’s football program moving forward?

Friedman: I think we’ve seen a lot of is already. I think “The Movement” can only benefit from Maryland’s relationship with Under Armour. We’re still seeing it with the new practice facility that’s going to be built. Under Armour had a lot to do with that and a lot of name recognition with them as Maryland is the Under Armour school like Oregon is the Nike school. I think that’s going to pay some dividends down the line.

Wiltfong: The biggest impact for Maryland is going to be the facility, then finally getting an indoor facility and upgrading that building that will make all of their football stuff a one stop shop, that’s the biggest game changer right now for Maryland football.

VanHaaren: That’s an interesting question because Under Armour recently passed ADIDAS in footwear and apparel sales in the United States.

It helps Maryland that other football schools, like Notre Dame, are jumping on board because it’s expanding the brand. The more exposure kids have to the brand, the better.

That being said, it’s always difficult to really measure how much apparel factors into a prospect’s decision. I think it can be used to get recruits excited, but usually doesn’t close the deal.

They care more about comfort level, relationships and winning so those come first. Marketing and brands are a big part of college football so it’s always important to stay ahead and stay up to date, but in terms of recruiting I don’t think it has as big of an impact as it’s sometimes made out to.