Maryland has loaded up the safety room this cycle with Alex Moore and Tayvon Nelson in the fold and with two spots left, the staff is in hot pursuit of one target who has emerged through the fall.
After tracking his recruitment through the fall into this week, I’ve shifted Roseville (NC) three-star safety Tamarcus Cooley to ‘warmer’ on the 2023 big board with the staff in hot pursuit.
The Ohio State game drew a long list of visitors and Rolesville (NC) three-star athlete Tamarcus Cooley made the trip to campus for an extended unofficial visit through the weekend. Though the Wolfpack were focused on flipping his teammate, Ohio State verbal Noah Rogers, Maryland was chipping away at both and first broke through with Cooley during his first visit. Confidence from Maryland’s end generated during the Ohio State weekend with a flip in the works. Wide receiver coach Gunter Brewer and safeties coach Wes Neighbors have tag teamed Copley’s recruitment and the staff laid out the red carpet once again on his official visit this past weekend.
Maryland sits in a great spot with Cooley expected to fill one of two remaining spots at safety this cycle. For the second and final spot, Maryland will bring in both Coffeyville safety Bishop Fitzgerald and Miami safety Avantae Williams for official visits this upcoming weekend. Maryland has a chance to fill that spot in the final weekend prior to signing day. As for Copley’s teammate, Noah Rogers, Maryland had kept in touch with the top-50 prospect since initial plans to visit with Cooley fell apart. Though head coach Mike Locksley has been able to get the Terps red hot on the trail to end the cycle, Rogers isn’t one of the targets to get hopes up for down the stretch.
Maryland landed its first commitment out of North Carolina just one day ago after four-star Rico Walker picked the Terps over Kentucky, Florida and Nebraska.
Cooley is rated a three-star prospect and an 86 overall by On3, sitting as the 33rd-best prospect in North Carolina.Related Links Maryland’s 2024 recruits shine over the weekend Rico Walker to Maryland: How it Happened, What it Means, What’s Next (+) Kevin Willard reviews Maryland’s loss to UCLA Four-star ATH Rico Walker commits to Maryland Locksley talks Taulia’s plans, bowl prep, young playmakers VIP: four-star update, former ACC safety, upcoming visitors (+) VIP: Good roster news (+)