The wait is over for Maryland football fans as Friday is expected to be a busy day filled with commitment announcements from several Maryland targets. The headliner is the Spalding trio -- QB Malik Washington, DB Jayden Shipps and DT Delmar White -- with Washington and Ships expected to announce at 1 and 1:15 PM. Washington, who was initially expected to commit in April, will announce among a final group of Maryland, UCF, Virginia Tech and Syracuse after taking official visits to each school. The Hokies kicked it off with an official visit in mid-April before venturing to his remaining contenders in June, while Maryland closed out the trips with an official visit this past weekend. Coordinators Brian Williams and Josh Gattis have led the way throughout the chase with head coach Mike Locksley an active piece in his recruitment dating back to Washington's junior season, making Friday a marquee day in the class as the Terps look to reel in their top target at the position. “I just got to spend some good time with the coaches even when it wasn’t just about football, kicking it at coach Locksley’s house,” Washington told IBG about his official visit. “It was more about having fun.” Announcing from a final group including Maryland, NC State, Tennessee and South Carolina, Shipps kicked off the month with an official visit to Maryland while planning official visits to NC State, Wisconsin and Indiana among others. Shipps returned to College Park this past weekend for an unofficial visit, the same weekend Washington and White took their official visits, as co-defensive coordinators Brian Williams and Aazaar Abdul-Rahim teamed up through the spring. "All genuine guys up there. I love everything. The people, the coaches," Shipps told IBG after his official visit. White, meanwhile, had been on the radar of defensive coordinator Brian Williams through the spring eval period after keeping tabs on the wrestling star through his junior season. After making his way to campus for the Big Man camp the first weekend of June, Maryland became the first Power Four offer before quickly setting up an official visit. White will look to only play football at the next level. The Spalding trio won't be the only ones, though, as other targets who took official visits are set to announce on Friday. Hayfield (VA) running back Jeff Overton Jr., who officially visited the weekend of June 13, will announce at noon on Friday among a final group with Maryland, Virginia Tech, Virginia and South Carolina still in the mix. Maryland already has a pair of running back commits in the fold in Iverson Howard and Bud Coombs, but maintained contact with the reigning Gatorade Player of the Year since the commitment before heading to his final official visit to Virginia Tech. McDonogh (MD) four-star Jeff Exinor is also set to announce his commitment at 7 PM with Maryland, Penn State and Virginia Tech in the mix though the buzz has sat between Maryland and Penn State over the last week. The Nittany Lions will look to tap back into their McDonogh connection where Exinor holds strong relationships with the Penn State staff, but the Terps look to play spoiler after Exinor considered the possibility of teaming up with MIAA rival and close friend, Malik Washington, in College Park. Exinor, who fits the role of a hybrid receiver/tight end, was hosted by former McDonogh teammate Preston Howard during his official visit this past weekend. Maryland enters Friday with 12 commitments in the 2025 class as On3 ranks the Terps with the nation's 51st-best class. Related Links
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