DeMatha head coach Bill McGregor breaks down Maryland football's newest commit

Ahmed Ghafir
3 days ago
3 min read

After four straight recruiting cycles without landing one prospect from nearby DeMatha (MD), Maryland picked up its first commitment in the 2026 from the nearby WCAC powerhouse after three-star safety Darrell Carey shut down his recruitment, giving head coach Mike Locksley his third consecutive recruiting cycle with at least one Stag after RB Bud Coombs continued the streak in 2025.

The quick decision came off the heels of his official visit to Maryland and nearly exactly one week removed from his decommitment from Penn State, a signal of the close relationships the safety carried with the Maryland staff throughout his recruitment. With the need at the position magnified after suffering its second decommitment of the cycle, Maryland wasted no time moving on Carey, a top target to begin the cycle.

“I’m very excited he’s going to the university of Maryland,” McGregor told IBG. “Coach Aazaar [Abdul-Rahim] has done a great job recruiting him and has been on him from day one. And of course, coach Locksley, we go back years. Any time a local guy can go to Maryland, I’m as happy as can be.”

Carey showcased himself as next up out of the Stags’ backfield through his junior year, totaling 65 tackles and three interceptions, a pair of pick-sixes along with just one catch allowed in man coverage. That versatility helped the DeMatha defensive staff move Carey around in the secondary, now lining up at both cornerback and safety through the regular season to become a “very versatile” piece.

“He’s a very good athlete,” McGregor added. “When you’re a good athlete, you can play a lot of different places. We had a bigger need this year at cornerback so we moved him down and let him play the corner spot but he’s talented enough and athletic enough to play either. I know they’re getting someone who can run, who can jump, just a really smart football player.

McGregor sees similarities between Carey and current Titans safety KJ Winston, who played at DeMatha before suiting up at Penn State.

“He’s that type of guy. Long, can run, can make plays. Football is important to him and he wants to be good. I think it’s a good fit for Maryland,” McGregor added.

McGregor noted the “maturation process” as part of Carey’s ascent into his senior year, stepping as the defensive leader alongside 2027 four-star edge James Pace. “There’s always a big jump between junior, senior year and the following time when he goes to college, that growth process. He’s doing that and a good job developing his skills.”

Whether Maryland can land Carey’s teammate, three-star WR Lavar Keys, remains the question as the staff hopes to land multiple DeMatha targets in the same cycle since Austin Fontaine and Evan Gregory did so in 2018.

“He’s in great hands with coach Locksley. I go back with Mike forever. The first time I saw Mike play was when he was a senior in high school. He went to Ballou, there was this big safety from Ballou making tackles all over the place. Incredible football player that day and it turned out it was Mike. So we’ve had a number of guys play for him. They’ve loved playing for him at Maryland and wherever he’s been. Good coach, great person.”

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