Terps Football: Class Of ’22 Recruiting Update

Spring football is here and that means football recruitment is also ramping up as practices and scrimmages begin that can attract top prospects and lure them to campus.

The Terps currently have seven verbal commitments to their 2022 class with many more of their targets showing strong interest in Maryland. Rivals.com currently has Maryland’s 2022 class ranked 24th nationally.

Let’s take a look at who says they’re already on board and who might follow soon.

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

Verbal Commitments

Amari Clark, ATH – Camden, NJ

Clark was Maryland’s first verbal commitment to its 2022 class. He’s a four-star athlete who’s expected to play wide receiver for the Terps. The 6-foot-2, 185-pounder was considering Maryland early in his process so he was able to visit College Park before the pandemic. He ultimately committed to the Terps in early August 2020. Despite schools like Michigan, Ohio State, and Oregon recruiting him, Clark recently told Rivals.com that he is ‘locked in’ to his decision.

“I have no doubts in my mind about my decision. I am going to Maryland. I am locked in,” Clark told Chad Simmons of Rivals.

Kellan Wyatt, LB – Severn, MD

Wyatt was the first local recruit to commit to the Terps’ 2022 class. A product of Severn (Md.) Archbishop Spalding, he plays under former Terp Kyle Schmitt. At 6-foot-2, 202 pounds, Wyatt is a three-star outside linebacker who specializes in rushing the passer. He is good friends with Terps’ 2021 commit Jayon Venerable. Another early pledge, Wyatt has been committed to Maryland since September 27, 2020.

Nyair Graham, LB – Camden, NJ

In December 2020, Graham became the second prospect from Camden, NJ, to commit to the Terps. He chose Maryland over other finalists Miami, Nebraska, Penn State, and Syracuse. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound three-star linebacker should help replenish a linebacking corps in College Park that felt its fair share of attrition thanks to the transfer portal. In an interview with Rivals after his commitment, Graham stated that fellow New Jersey native Tarheed Still and his breakout season at defensive back in College Park as a freshman inspired him and helped him make his decision.

Lionell Whitaker, ATH – Tallahassee, FL

Once the calendar turned to the new year, Whitaker quickly became Maryland’s first 2022 commit in 2021. He was Brawley Evans’ first offer after being promoted to outside linebackers coach. The 6-foot, 177-pound Sunshine State native is a three-star athlete who will likely play defensive back at the next level. Whittaker was also heavily recruited by Tennessee, Kansas State, West Virginia, South Florida, and Wake Forest.

Preston Howard, ATH – Owings Mills, MD

Howard was Maryland’s second local verbal commit to the 2022 class, hopping on board in late February of this year. A 6-foot-6, 215-pound three-star athlete, Howard not only played a little bit of quarterback at Owings Mills (Md.) McDonogh School, he also lined up as a wide receiver or tight end at times. Mike Locksley & Co. recruited him as an athlete and have yet to determine which position he will play in College Park. Howard had double-digit offers from the likes of Auburn, Michigan, Penn State, Syracuse, and Virginia Tech.

AJ Swann, QB – Canton, GA

Somewhat of the crown jewel of Maryland’s 2022 class so far, Swann is the lone quarterback to verbally commit to the Terps, having done so March 1. A solid prospect who also had offers from Colorado, Vanderbilt, and Virginia Tech, the three-star Georgia signal-caller gives Maryland a young quarterback in the pipeline that it can develop to perhaps eventually replace Taulia Tagovailoa. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound gunslinger threw for nearly 2,200 yards during a big junior campaign while also tossing 21 touchdowns in 10 games. Swann was also a standout at the Elite 11 football camp in early March.

Swann told Rivals’ Simmons that his offer list didn’t make it an easy decision for him, but he ultimately knew Maryland was the right fit.

“It was a pretty tough decision, really because of the offers coming in a little later for me, but I knew Maryland was the school,” Swann said. “I knew I didn’t want to wait too long to commit, and I have had Maryland high on my list since they offered, so it did not take me long to make my decision.”

Coltin Deery, OL – Malvern, PA

Maryland’s most recent verbal commitment is three-star center out of Malvern Prep (Pa.), Coltin Deery. A 6-foot-3, 280-pound blocker at a position of major need for the Terps, Deery is also the No. 6-ranked heavyweight wrestler in the nation. There are rumors that he could also wrestle for the Terps in college — a throwback to the Spencer Myers days.

Top/Recent Targets

Antonio Gates Jr., ATH – Dearborn, MI

This name should be familiar to any football fan. Gates’ father is arguably the greatest tight end in NFL history and junior has Maryland firmly on his radar. Gates is receiving a lot of attention as a three-star athlete, but his current shortlist of schools includes Boston College, Iowa State, Kentucky, Louisville, Maryland, Michigan State, Nebraska, Ole Miss, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Washington State, and West Virginia.

Van Wells, C – Houston, TX

Wells is a big center from Texas that the Terps recently offered. The 6-foot-2, 300-pounder also holds offers from the likes of Air Force, East Carolina, Navy, and Tulane. He is certainly a gettable target for the Terps.

Terrell Foster, OLB – Bradenton, FL

Foster is a rapidly ascending linebacker who just won the Linebacker MVP award at a Rivals camp in Miami. His Maryland offer is a little over a week old and he’s someone the Terps are fortunate to be in with early because it seems like he could blow up.

Andre Roye, OT – Baltimore, MD

Roye is a massive three-star offensive tackle from right in Maryland’s backyard in Baltimore. Playing for the powerhouse St. Frances, he receives plenty of national attention and will likely have a who’s who list of offers when it’s all said and done.

Jaishawn Barham, OT – Baltimore, MD

Roye’s teammate at St. Frances, Barham would be a massive get for Maryland. He’s a four-star outside linebacker who already has his pick of the litter when it comes to colleges. He will be a tough one to land, but he is very familiar with Maryland and some of its coaches.

Daniel Owens, DE – Baltimore, MD

Staying in Baltimore, but this time at Calvert Hall, Owens is a top local target that the Terps would love to land. He’s a three-star defensive end who is already attracting some big time offers.