Quince Orchard (MD) three-star cornerback Aydan West is plenty familiar with Maryland considering the local product grew up watching the team that his head coach once played for. That only continued into high school as the 6-foot-1, 176-pound cornerback has been a frequent visitor on campus over the last year, first for spring practices, then a late July unofficial followed by trips for the first four home games.
Quince Orchard saw their season end after Northwest pulled off the upset last weekend, ending the Cougars’ dominating 4A run as West now prepares for his senior season. While West is looking to add roughly another ten pounds of muscle ahead of next season, the local cornerback kicked off his offseason with his first Big Ten offer after he reconnected with OLB/ST coach James Thomas.
“Yeah man, it feels great to have now,” West told IBG.
“Me and [James Thomas] talk on a regular so it was just a regular conversation. I always had a feeling they’d offer me, but this time didn’t feel no different. It could’ve been any conversation really, just felt normal. Then he told me I had the offer. I just wasn’t expecting it then.”
Thomas has spearheaded efforts as the Terps look to break back into the MoCo powerhouse as they add depth to the relationship. “We do like film sessions sometimes so our relationship is really good. We talk a lot. I hear from coach [Henry] Baker too but coach [James] Thomas is the main guy reaching out.”
Cincinnati, East Carolina and Virginia Tech are among the schools who’ve offered West so far but the Maryland offer carries different weight compared to the rest. “I enjoy it. When you’ve been going since a kid, it’s always going to be great and something you look back to. The DBs there, I feel like I’d fit in.”
West will look to make his first visit to Virginia Tech this weekend when the Hokies host NC State as they look for bowl eligibility.
“First time for a game. I went on a visit during the summer. Coach [Elijah] Brooks [has] been the guy I’ve talked to the most down there.”
Aydan West is rated a three-star prospect and an 87 overall by On3, sitting as the 15th-best prospect in Maryland.
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