Maryland has a pair of scholarships remaining along the offensive line for 2023 and after landing a former four-star with multiple years of eligibility remaining in Marcus Dumervil, the search for an impact interior lineman and tackle remains heading into the homestretch of bowl season. The ongoing search circled the staff back to a familiar name for many after Jackson State offensive lineman Willis Patrick picked up an offer just eleven days ago.
In fact, Maryland was in pursuit of the 6-foot-4, 347-pound lineman last offseason before academics derailed the pursuit, but after entering the transfer portal back on December 18, the staff has made themselves a player once again. It helps that outside linebacker coach James Thomas, who coached Patrick at Angelo State, has a preexisting relationship to build on.
“I like the staff a lot. Coach Thomas, he’s the special teams coordinator. We got history, me and him. He was one of my old coaches back in the day so me and him are real tight. Coach [Mike] Locksley, all the guys, I just like them from top to bottom and they’re a really great group of men. I’m really excited to get up there and meet them face-to-face,” Patrick told IBG. “[Thomas] keeps telling me to come on home, come on home and play for them.”
Now, he’s expecting to officially visit next month.
“I’m supposed to be going up there the second weekend of January,” Patrick added. With previous knowledge of the program, he admitted he doesn’t have any burning questions for Maryland heading into his visit. “They’ve done a good job covering their bases, telling me my role and what position I’d be playing at, things of that sort. So it’s just been talking, getting to know them more and connecting with them really.”
West Virginia, TCU, UTSA and Appalachian State have also extended offers and Patrick says he’s expecting to visit both TCU and UTSA next week. With Maryland set to be his third trip, Patrick added it’ll be his last visit as he’ll look to enroll next month.
“That’ll definitely be my last one because I’ve got to make that decision before school starts.
A lot of the coaches want to get me in for spring ball, get me used to the system and the plays and everything so it’ll definitely be after that.”
Patrick has one year of eligibility remaining.
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