Calvert Hall (MD) three-star defensive end Daniel Owens has committed to Maryland, opting for the Terps over Syracuse, Rutgers and Penn State as his finalists.
Owens gave the staff his verbal last month and told his teammates his commitment last Saturday, becoming the 12th verbal for the Terps this cycle. “I’m really excited about that commitment. I’m all-in on that commitment. I couldn’t be more happy about that commitment. I’m locked in,” Owens told Inside the Black and Gold.
Owens visited Maryland for the season-opening win against West Virginia and is planning to visit with his family for the Indiana game. “I’ve said it a lot, but when I walked on campus it felt like home. Like I can envision myself 40 years down the line being proud to come back to the University of Maryland. I know I haven’t even gotten out of high school yet, but I can already see myself reminiscing about my college days and value my time there. All the people there, they just foster an environment of growth and that’s what I’m trying to do.”
Defensive line coach Brian Williams led Owens’ recruitment as the 6-foot-2 defensive end became an in-state priority. “I definitely had that thought in the back of my mind, you always ask yourself if you can think about yourself here but I felt at home even before the West Virginia game. When I went there and saw how they battled through that game it just cemented my position.”
The consistency and genuine relationship between Williams and Owens made the commitment a layup for the Terps. “I can tell that he cared about me like genuinely cared about me. You and I know how busy he is at all these coaches so for him to take the time out to ask about my schedule, ask about my day, what my favorite food is, anything of that nature, it’s really special. You make time for those people you care about. That’s what I felt.”
Head coach Mike Locksley and co-defensive coordinator Brian Stewart have known about the pending announcement for some time but were fired up to learn of the news. “I was on the phone with Coach Locks, on the phone with coach Stewart, just really letting them know I was locked in. It was a special moment.”
Now, Owens heads to the same school that his older sister attended. “It feels good because all my family, my friends, they all believed in me. It’s good to reciprocate that energy, stay home. It’s really special to me that I can represent the home state.” Owens plans to major in engineering in College Park.
“They emphasized it’s possible, they showed it to me and they told me that they support me with that with whatever career I wanted but they let me know it’s gonna be a grind. I’m not afraid of a grind.“
Owens missed one game this fall due to a wrist injury and is sporting a club on his left hand, but will likely not require surgery.
Owens is rated a three-star prospect and an 85 overall by 247Sports.
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