Mike Harris Inks with Maryland Football on National Signing Day

It took longer than expected, but Maryland has landed its longtime linebacker target in a peculiar ending.

Maryland has dipped back into Florida to land a pair of composite four-star linebacker Mike Harris. His twin, Andrew Harris, has opted to stay closer to home and will suit up at UCF.

Outside linebacker coach James Thomas led the way with defensive coordinator Brian Williams playing a heavy hand in this recruitment as Maryland never gave up in this recruitment. Maryland hosted the duo for an official visit the first weekend of June as Ruben Hyppolite, Tai Felton and Roman Hemby served as hosts as the staff laid the groundwork to become viable players in their recruitments.

In fact and with consistent support from their mom, the staff remained in contact with the twins through the summer into the fall despite their previous commitments to UCF. Head coach Mike Locksley was also involved down the stretch, first checking out the twins in action during Maryland’s bye week while returning to Florida to check on them during the December contact period leading up to signing day. “He’s a real nice guy, looks like he can be a father figure to us. Help us grind so I definitely look up to him. He wanted me to walk away knowing that if we pick a school and go to Maryland, just know that he’s going to take care of us and we’ll get the right education on and off the field,” Mike told IBG this summer.

Maryland was hopeful that the Harris twins would sign during December as initially expected, but the duo held off with the family split between Maryland and UCF. The Knights lost the in-state duo after former defensive coordinator Travis Williams left for the same position at Arkansas, proving to be the tipping point their recruitments. Maryland’s ace Florida tandem in Thomas and Williams never gave up as confidence seemingly never wavered in College Park and on the first day of the July contact period, the duo and inside linebacker coach Lance Thompson all went to Lake Brantley (FL) to check back in on their top targets. The Harris twins took one final visit to UCF over the weekend for an unofficial, but Maryland was able to hold off to bolster their class.

Head coach Mike Locksley left an impression on the duo from beginning to end. Mike fits in as an outside linebacker to help the Terps replenish its depth on the edge

The commitment gives Locksley and company their third four-star prospect to close the 2023 cycle.

Mike is rated a four-star prospect and 89.55 in the On3 consensus rankings, sitting as the 352^nd-best prospect in the nation.

Related Links

Maryland outlasts Indiana 66-55 for third straight win

Instant reaction: Maryland 66, Indiana 55

Four-star LB Kris Jones recaps third trip to Maryland (+)