Flowers (MD) three-star cornerback Lloyd Irvin has been busy traveling throughout the country this month with three official visits in the books. After checking out West Virginia, then Wisconsin, then Boston College, Irvin will close the month out with an official visit to Maryland this weekend.
“I just want to be around the guys, see how the feel is. I’m extremely familiar with Maryland,” Irvin told IBG. Cornerbacks coach Henry Baker has been a mainstay in the recruitment of the 6-foot-2 cornerback with tight ends coach Kevin Sumlin filling in as the area recruiter. Irvin added that his parents and grandparents will join him for this weekend’s visit where he’s become a familiar face throughout his recruitment.
“We talk all the time. Coach [Kevin] Sumlin taps in with me a lot. Whenever I go there it’s like family,” Irvin added. “Just in general, I’ve been there like ten times. I have a good relationship with coach [Henry] Baker, coach [Mike] Locksley, the whole staff. They’ve been consistent with me since the open period started. At this point I’m just trying to go and hang around people, see what it’s like down there, if it’s an environment that I see myself in but I’m already familiar with the players. A lot of them are from around here, we grew up together so I already know what to expect.”
West Virginia jumped into the picture this spring but credited the “extremely consistent” pursuit from the Mountaineers as he made his way back to Morgantown. “It was good. I have a good understanding of the football but it was just good to be around the players and see what it’s like to be in the city.”
First-year Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell has hit the DMV in his first full recruiting cycle, adding Gaithersburg (MD) running back Gideon Ituka over the weekend, as the Badgers have left a noticeable impression. Irvin made his way to Madison during spring ball prior to Wisconsin offering, but that moved the needle on the Badgers’ pursuit.
“It just showed good effort. They told me since I came down there, that showed that I was really interested and they weren’t recruiting Maryland heavy yet. So when they came, that’s when a lot of the guys picked up offers from the guys they wanted and I got the last one.” His extended time at Wisconsin gave him a chance to hear the fresh pitch from the new staff.
“Their whole thing is it’s a new era of Wisconsin. They have a really strong recruiting class. Since Fickell came down, it’s the number one class in Wisconsin history. They did a player panel, were highlighting all the good things going on then the parents asked the players questions for like 45 minutes.”
Boston College still has its presence in the DMV with Aazaar Abdul-Rahim mining the area, keeping close tabs on the Maryland native.
“Aazaar has been there very consistently since the beginning. Maryland offered right after the season, then Aazaar offered and he’s been consistent through the entire thing. Making sure I’m good, just always being there for me.”
After this weekend’s visit, Irvin admits a decision might not come much longer.
“July, maybe even at the end of this month. It’s my last [official] so I won’t need too much time.”
While Boston College, Maryland, West Virginia and Wisconsin are Irvin’s finalists, separating them will be tougher than previously anticipated.
“I was surprised. All the schools had really good people. For me, I’m just separating scheme and specific things I’ve talked with the coaches about. There’s a lot of playing factors, certain schools and how direct and exact their vision is for me. Some schools want me to play one specific things, others want a bunch of different spots. I’m just playing all the options and see what fits me well and what works best for my development.”
Irvin is not yet rated by On3.
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