Bud Coombs explains when he knew he wanted to be a Terp

Maryland has been in hot pursuit of DeMatha (MD) three-star running back Bud Coombs since his recruitment began to take shape during his sophomore season, but it didn’t take look for it to be clear the hometown team was making the 5-foot-9, 185-pound running back a priority this cycle. Coombs drew interest on the football side from USC, Virginia Tech, Michigan and Texas A&M before Maryland rounded out the top group alongside the Wolverines and Aggies. Alabama, meanwhile, was in hot pursuit on the baseball side with Bama coaches Rob Vaughn and Anthony Papio showing interest and hosting him for a spring visit. The local speedster took a trip down to Tuscaloosa to check out the Tide, though a football offer never came to fruition, before taking a trip to College Station to check out the Aggies. After leaving Texas A&M and looking for the right fit, the hometown team capitalized. After making a name for himself as a college prospect at both running back and centerfield, the chance for Coombs to play both sports at the next level was something he prioritized. For Maryland baseball head coach and DeMatha alum Matt Swope, that was a box that Coombs knew was checked early in the process. That green light gave Maryland an edge early in his recruitment and it was a moment during his early April visit for the Indiana game that led Coombs to shut down his recruitment. “That time , I went to the tailgate, coach took me there and everyone there was like 'oh you're Bud? We’ve heard so much about you.' It was just a good moment,” Coombs told IBG. “I stopped by for football, just walked through and got a quick tour and talked to the coaches real quick, but it was good.” New cornerbacks coach Aazaar Abdul-Rahim helped Maryland seal the deal with Coombs while the local speedster has met with running backs coach Latrell Scott through the process, but tight ends coach Kevin Sumlin was the one who was in hot pursuit of Coombs through his junior season. “He called me almost every week, sometimes two times per week. He always portrayed how much he wanted me there and made sure that I knew it was the place for me, gave me the confidence to go there,” Coombs told IBG. “I just loved being home. The way they recruited me, they showed me so much love. I felt like they needed me there. I just went where I get love the most.” Coombs is set to take one official visit in June with an extended trip to College Park set for the weekend of June 7, but with his recruitment complete, he’s shifting into a recruiter to help add more local talent to the Terps’ incoming high school class. “Malik Washington, that's one. Jayvon McFadden, the lineman. I'm definitely trying to get him.” Bud Coombs is rated a three-star prospect and an 87 overall by On3, checking in as the 25th-best prospect in Maryland and the nation’s 55th-best running back. Related Links DeMatha running back Bud Coombs commits to Maryland Maryland basketball announces signing of fourth portal addition Las Vegas Raiders project DJ Glaze to stick at tackle Tuesday note on the portal (+)Five post-spring Maryland football stock risers