Maryland has four commitments already in the fold and with all of them expected to return to campus for an official visit next month, Cedar Grove (GA) cornerback Lakhi Roland has one set and another school working to flip him.
Roland, a 6-foot-1, 180-pound defensive back, wrapped up his spring game last Thursday with coaches from Maryland, North Carolina and Colorado among others on the sideline. Roland opted to give his commitment to Maryland back in mid-April, roughly one week after his second visit to Maryland.
Now with outside suitors, Roland says he’s still solidly in Maryland’s class. “I’m still locked in,” he added. But it’s been Louisville whose been in consistent contact working on a flip and they’re the lone school set to host him so far with an official visit set for June 16.
“It’s a nice environment up there, but I didn’t really see too much during the spring game. They had juco officials and DII officials so it was tough.” What’s been the pitch? “I’m long and they need my ball skills. Coach [Steve] Ellis, he develops great corners and he’s a great coach.”
Roland, however, knows he’ll make his way back to College Park. “I’m definitely going to take one in June,” he added.
It was cornerbacks coach Henry Baker who got a chance to watch his lone cornerback commit during last week’s spring game as he’s among the several coaches working to keep him in the fold. “Him, coach Braswell, coach Locksley, they’ve all got great relationships with me and reach out to me all the time.” And in the era of the transfer portal and flips across high school recruiting, Maryland knows they have their work cut out for them to keep the underrated Georgia product in the fold but haven’t shut down any potential visits elsewhere. In fact, it’s been the opposite.
“They don’t mind. They actually want me to experience different things, inform myself and check out places.”
Aside from an official to Louisville and an expected trip to Maryland, Roland adds he is looking to officially visit North Carolina next month with cornerbacks coach Jason Jones in pursuit.
Lakhi Roland is not yet rated by On3.
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