Terps Football Recruiting Q&A with Fox Sports/Scout.com

To date, Coach Randy Edsall and his staff have received 12 commitments to be part of 2012 University of Maryland Class.

Baltimore Sports and Life has reached out to several analysts with Fox Sports / Scout.com for their perspective on how the Terrapins’ class is shaping up.

The Fox Sports / Scout.com (http://recruiting.scout.com/) analysts who contributed are:

Bob Lichtenfels
Regional Manager / East Football Recruiting
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/BobLichtenfels

Scott Kennedy
Director of Scouting / National Football Recruiting
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/ScoutKennedy

Kristen Kenney
Field Reporter (D.C. Based)
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/kristenkenney

Baltimore Sports and Life thanks Mr. Lichtenfels, Mr. Kennedy, and Ms. Kenney for answering a few Terps related questions.

Baltimore Sports and Life: “Coach Edsall and the University of Maryland have received 12 commitments so far for their 2012 Class. First impressions of Edsall’s Maryland staff on the recruiting trail? Are you seeing any perceptible change in the recruiting philosophy of Edsall vs. Friedgen? Are you seeing a difference out of Edsall and his staff, vs. what you saw out of Edsall at UConn?”

Lichtenfels: “Recruiting at UConn and Maryland are vastly different animals. At UConn, Edsall had to try to keep kids under-the-radar. He didn’t want people knowing who he was recruiting. UConn is a great place, but it is a tough sell for a lot of kids. Maryland is an ACC school with great tradition and a lot of positives. He doesn’t have to be low-key anymore. He now has everything he needs in place to recruit against the other power conferences and all the schools that he used to have to try and hide guys from. At Maryland, he is getting kids on the campus that he never would have gotten to visit at UConn. That isn’t a slap at UConn, it’s just that Maryland is an easier sell. He has also surrounded himself with some very good recruiters. Greg Gattuso is one of the best in the business and especially in Western Pennsylvania, which is a hot bed for talent. He has already taken two prospects (Anthony Nixon and Perry Hills) from a perennial powerhouse program like Pittsburgh Central Catholic and he is in the running for several other prospects.”

Scott Kennedy: “First off, it’s a good year in the state of Maryland/DC area for prep talent, so it was a good time to bring in a new staff to try and re-energize the Maryland program. Edsall and Friedgen are alike in some ways in that they are both known as outstanding coaches first and foremost, but Edsall always took to recruiting a lot more than Friedgen. The first time I met Edsall as on the road at a football practice in Virginia. I lived in Atlanta while Friedgen was at Georgia Tech and don’t remember seeing him on the road. Edsall will take a more hands on approach, and it should be a good year for the Terps.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “The highest rated commitment so far is OT, Mike Madaras, who is an in-state product from Good Counsel.Thoughts on him?”

Lichtenfels: “Madaras is a bull and one of the top linemen in the state. Edsall needs to own Maryland , especially DeMatha and Good Counsel. He is an athletic kid who can move and he has a very projectable frame which should be able to add more mass. He is versatile and can play inside at guard or at tackle. He comes from Good Counsel and kids like being around kids they know, so the more players that Edsall lands from the in-state power schools the better it is going to be for the overall health of the program.”

Scott Kennedy: “Madaras is part of a deep, deep year for offensive linemen across the country. He’s got the prototype size at 6’6/270 to retain his quickness and still play at 300 pounds.”

Kenney: “Madaras has an impressive frame (6’6, 270) as Scott mentioned but also shows speed for a lineman with a 4.9 40. He has an insurmountable work ethic. You can tell he loves the game. As for his commitment to the Terps, don’t expect him to flipflop. He is genuinely excited to play in his home-state in front of his family and friends.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “Good Counsel has several other well regarded undeclared players – Stefon Diggs (Athlete), Ryan Watson (OG), Wes Brown (RB), and Rod Chungong (DT). Maryland’s chances with Madaras’ HS teammates?”

Lichtenfels: “Recruiting is so fluid, it is tough to predict things like that in July. We still have a ways to go. You could see kids end up at Maryland in February that aren’t even talking about them now. Brown and Diggs I see going out of state. Miami is a player for both and both have mentioned the Canes since we started talking to them two years ago. Watson will make a decision based on academics and football. He won’t necessarily go to a football power type of school if he feels another school will offer him a better education.”

Kristen Kenney: “Good Counsel is loaded with d-1 talent. These guys have a lot of offers to sift through before they even come close to narrowing down a top 5.  Rod Chungong is the only guy who has claimed a top two – Georgia Tech and UVa. He has built a solid rapport with the Yellow Jackets, but UVa’s coaching staff has moved into the picture recently. He has mentioned casually about playing with teammate and good friend Ryan Watson. The reality of that actually happening is slim as we all know, but the two of them do want to travel to GT together. Both Chungong and Watson have told me they want to take all 5 official visits before making a selection. Where do they want to go? It is still to be determined, but you can bet GT will be a contender for both. Maryland was one of the first to offer Watson. He has said in previous interviews that Madaras is chirping in his ear and he would like to stay close to home but would not oppose leaving for a solid program.  “I will always consider Maryland,” he said. His recruiting is entirely open but he has mentioned that he wants to visit MSU, Michigan, Tennessee and South Carolina and was impressed with PSU and UNC.

Stefon Diggs is going to be exciting to follow. He is fresh off an Auburn visit with his mother. His best visit yet, he said. With more than 40 offers, it is hard to know where he will end up, but Auburn will definitely be in his top when he narrows that list down. Diggs is a guy that plays with a lot of swagger. He loves the spotlight and attention. I could see him fitting in at Miami or a powerhouse SEC program like Auburn.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “Another in-state talent who has committed is McDonogh DE Roman Braglio. What is the overview on him?”

Lichtenfels: “Braglio is another kid like Madaras who is a big athlete. Some people see him as an end , some think he may outgrow the outside and end up shifting down inside to a defensive tackle position. He is an intense kid who plays with passion and is a high-motor type of kid who is always moving and always active.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “In addition to Braglio, there are a number of talented Baltimore based products still on the board – including Cyrus Jones (Gilman, Athlete), Greg Pyke (Boys Latin, OT), Kenneth Goins (Gilman, OLB), Devon Porchia (Gilman, OLB), Ian Thomas (Franklin, WR), Charles Tapper (City, TE), Jordan Floyd (Loyola, S). Jones appears to be the highest rated. Who is the leader for him? Do any of the others stand out to you?”

Lichtenfels: “Jones is a stud and he really showed what he could do on a  national scale at The Opening out in Oregon. He is a big time prospect. I watched Ian Thomas at the U.S. Army All-American Combine in San Antonio, Texas in January and I felt he was one of the best players that I saw out of about 550 kids. Pyke is a warrior. He destroyed defensive players at the Under-Armour All-American Combine. He just seems like the prototype Penn State lineman to me. Tapper is an outstanding two-way prospect and he has a chance to be a very good college football player.”

Scott Kennedy: “Maryland is loaded with talent this year. Greg Pyke has trimmed his list to 5 – Maryland is on it along with Georgia, VT, PSU and UVA. Jones has listed his top as alabama, auburn, PSU, WVU, Miami and OSU. He is talking to ND now. He seems to be leaning towards the SEC. Jordan Floyd appears to be a UConn lean. Maryland was has top before Don Brown left for UConn. Ian Thomas is all about Rutgers, ND and Stanford. Kenny Goins has trimmed his list to two -Syracuse and Vandy. Devon Porchia could be pulling the trigger any day now. He is down to Pitt and Wake. A visit to Wake in the coming week will determine where they stand.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “Two QB’s – Perry Hills (Pittsburgh, PA) and Caleb Rowe (Greer, SC) have committed. Have you seen either? How do they compare and contrast?”

Lichtenfels: “I have seen Perry Hills probably more than anyone. He is a typical Randy Edsall quarterback. He is an athlete, but not a dual-threat guy. He is mobile enough, but he is cerebral and will not make a lot of mistakes. He will stand tall in the pocket and pick you apart. He doesn’t necessarily have the greatest measurable, but he wins and he is a leader. I love Hills just because he is an elite wrestler, so you know he is tough as nails. He also has that calm, quiet demeanor to him, but he is as competitive as anyone. He has a lot of moxie to him but he is humble and not outspoken about it.”

Scott Kennedy: “I haven’t seen Rowe yet, but Hills is a smart player who will manage a game without getting his offense in bad situations. There’s nothing about him physically that’s going to stand out, until you see the end of the game and he’s got a W next to his name. It’s a down year for quarterbacks across the country. The most successful quarterbacks from the Class of 2012 will be the ones with the best coaches.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “The Terps have received the commitment of 3 star Pennsylvania TE P.J. Gallo. Does he project as more of a blocking TE, or as guy capable of stretching the field?”

Lichtenfels: “I wouldn’t count him out as a potential defensive end. He is a combo-hybrid type guy who can stretch the field. He is a better blocker though than most people think. I wouldn’t classify him as one of those guys who is like a big receiver, because Gallo will get dirty and won’t shy away from contact.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “Lot’s of traditional powers after Washington DC Eddie Goldman (Collegiate Academy, DT). The 5 star player is ranked as the number 1 DT. Can Maryland get more seriously involved here?”

Lichtenfels: “I think personally, Goodman is all about the SEC.”

Kenney: “While leaving the District will be difficult for Goldman and his pop, Goldman is going to go wherever he will have the best relationship with the D-line coach, the best opportunity to grow into a top NFL draft pick, and a school that builds “premium people.” Goldman is a humble five-star prospect who will thoroughly evaluate each program before making any decisions.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “Two DC Secondary players Kenny Crawley (CB, Woodson), and Jaylen Johnson (S, Saint John’s College) are undeclared. Is Maryland actively involved with both?’

Lichtenfels: “The commitment of Anthony Nixon may push Johnson away.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “What other players do you like that you believe are actively considering College Park?”

Lichtenfels: “That’s a pretty broad question at this point, so I’ll go with the biggest and that would be Harrisburg (Pa.) Bishop McDevitt defensive end Noah Spence. Spence is best friends with Brock Dean and it seems as though Maryland has grown on him and he has a good relationship with Gattuso.”