Quince Orchard (MD) four-star edge rusher Jaylen Harvey is no stranger to Maryland having visited countless times since his freshman year, so it was no surprise that he made the short trip to campus with his teammates on March 2.
“We just went up there and talked with the coaches. I got to watch practice for a little, sit with coach [James] Thomas for a little then got to take some pictures,” Harvey told IBG. “It was real nice. I got to see Jayden [Sauray], Kaden Prather, Tai [Felton]. They looked good up there, but just getting a chance to see everyone.”
Outside linebacker coach James Thomas has made Harvey a top priority and as both his position coach and area recruiter, Thomas has made the MoCo standout a top priority dating back to last fall. Harvey also visited Maryland for a pair of home games last fall as the staff has steadily chipped away in his recruitment. “He’s real cool. He checks in with me pretty much every day, real easy guy to talk to and we have a good relationship.”
He’s expected back at the end of the month or early April where he’ll get another look at the Terps from a different angle. “I know how I’d fit in with them, more of an outside guy. I don’t have a date but I’ll be back for a [spring] practice so really all I’ll be doing is watching the outside ‘backers to see how they work and how [James Thomas] works with them.”
Until then, the four-star prospect is ironing out his official visit schedule. Harvey said he will take his first official visit to Notre Dame on June 9 then Ohio State on June 25, while his third official visit to USC is set for June 17. Florida State, USC, Penn State and Maryland are jockeying for the final two visits. While it’s currently an uphill battle to secure an official, Harvey said it’s a possibility he still takes an extended trip. “It’s still on the table.”
Harvey is rated a four-star prospect by the On3 consensus rankings, but dropped to a high three-star prospect and an 89 overall in On3’s independent ranking. Harvey now also checks in as the 12th-best prospect in Maryland and 35th-best edge rusher in the country.
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