After wrapping up four official visit weekends and entering the dead period with 12 verbal commitments, Maryland is approaching a pivotal recruiting stretch with a long list of top targets set to announce their decisions starting on Friday. The latest rumblings on Maryland’s top 2025 targets: Spalding QB Malik Washington, DE Delmar White, CB Jayden Shipps The trio of Spalding targets remain on the cusp of their commitments with both Washington and Shipps set to announce at 1 PM on Friday. As for White, an actual decision date or time hasn’t been finalized but the Terps are well-positioned to keep the wrestling star local where he’s expected to only play football at the next level. As for Shipps, he never ventured to another school after his Maryland official visit – instead returning to College Park again for an unofficial visit this past weekend alongside White and Washington. Maryland positioned itself as the team to beat with Washington through the spring with other schools hoping to change that through June, but now, head coach Mike Locksley and coordinators Josh Gattis, Brian Williams look to pick up the biggest recruiting win of the cycle to help move the needle with other local and priority targets. More on that later in the article (Exinor, Smith). St. Thomas Aquinas (FL) three-star LB Travares Daniels The Florida target was initially slated to officially visit Maryland beginning June 13, but rescheduled his official visit for this past weekend where Maryland rolled out the red carpet for its top remaining linebacker target as DeMatha (MD) three-star Noah Chambers opted for Virginia Tech. While Maryland finished a close second for Chambers, buzz sits with Maryland heading into July with ample confidence surrounding the Terps’ chances to reel in the 6-foot-1 inside linebacker target with Georgia Tech and Ole Miss under consideration. Daniels is expected to make his commitment in the next few weeks with a finalized decision date approaching. Salem (VA) four-star OL Jaylen Gilchrist South Carolina entered June entrenched as the clear team to beat for the top-100 prospect and were able to reinforce that during his official visit back on May 31. Virginia had long been considered in the mix and were initially slated to host the four-star, but Gilchrist backed off those plans and focused on a final three with Georgia, Maryland and South Carolina in the mix. Gilchrist’s official visit to Georgia the weekend of June 14 opened his recruitment more while the Bulldogs rolled out the red carpet, but then it was Maryland’s turn where the potential target wrapped up the month with a stellar visit to College Park. Gilchrist quickly shifted into decision mode coming out of the weekend, but the intel since then has pointed to the Terps becoming a viable contender for the blue-chip lineman where the Terps are coming off a stellar visit as assistant Latrell Scott is moving full steam ahead to reel in the priority Virginia target. Maryland has built tight-knit relationships with Gilchrist heading into visits as the four-star noted, “it’s gotten to the point where, yes they’re coaches, but I’m at the point where I don’t even have to look at them as coaches but as mentors.” Gilchrist is expected to make his commitment this summer, likely July, and I’ve since lowered my confidence score for the four-star to land at South Carolina to a ‘one’ in the recruit predictions. Friendship Collegiate (DC) four-star DL Bryce Jenkins Rutgers looked to shake up Jenkins’ list at the start of June, but the four-star’s recruitment has shifted to Maryland and Tennessee with buzz bouncing between the two schools. Coming out of Tuesday, multiple sources have pointed to Maryland having the edge heading into an expected early July decision. What side of the ball Jenkins is best suited for has been a growing debate through the spring, but the local four-star has been a steady target for assistants Brian Williams and Aazaar Abdul-Rahim while Jenkins was able to sit in defensive line meetings during his official visit to College Park. NIL has also become a growing topic in Jenkins’ recruitment, but sources have added the Terps have remained competitive there with Maryland’s NIL standing improved heading into the spring. Concordia Prep (MD) OLB Sidney Stewart I shifted Stewart to ‘hot’ on the big board coming off his official visit to Maryland this past weekend with a commitment date set for this upcoming Saturday, June 29. Maryland has made themselves a factor ever since they picked up their pursuit through the spring where the Concordia Prep standout has the perfect size as an outside ‘backer, though he told IBG his official visit centered around his fit as a Kellan Wyatt replacement. While official visits to Indiana, Virginia Tech and West Virginia gave him a chance to settle in on his finalists, the Terps were able to move the needle during the final visit to position themselves to keep Stewart local. Assistant James Thomas led the way with the in-state standout while Aazaar Abdul-Rahim was also able to build a quick rapport with the 6-foot-1 linebacker. North Caroline (MD) four-star WR Zymear Smith Maryland looked like the early team to beat for Smith as the relationship with Aazaar Abdul-Rahim carried ample weight in his recruitment, but Alabama gradually changed that before squeezing him on his first visit to Tuscaloosa. Despite his verbal pledge, Smith maintained contact with Maryland through the spring before finalizing just one other official visit – Maryland. Multiple sources tell IBG that Maryland remains a threat in Smith’s recruitment with Alabama now working to keep him in the fold through the summer, but this past weekend’s official visit moved the needle enough to where the Terps are now viewed as the team to beat in his recruitment heading into signing day. If Maryland lands Malik Washington, that adds fuel to Maryland’s pursuit of the local four-star, but I’d still expect Smith to become a frequent visitor around campus as the longtime top target remains a top priority this cycle. McDonogh (MD) four-star WR/TE Jeff Exinor Penn State had the early buzz in Exinor’s recruitment, an unsurprising development given McDonogh’s connections to the Pa. program. Virginia Tech was able to shake that up back in mid-April before the Nittany Lions retook momentum following their early June official visit, but Maryland continues to make his recruitment a battle. There was confidence coming out of the weekend that the Nittany Lions could still land both McDonogh targets, starting with four-star Brandon Finney, before Oregon capitalized on its late June official to pull off the stunner. There remains confidence in Happy Valley in Penn State’s chances with Exinor, but the same can be said in College Park. Two sources involved in Exinor’s recruitment told IBG on Tuesday that his recruitment is now viewed as a 50-50 toss up as Maryland continues to make it a battle. While the potential commitment from Malik Washington could move the needle with targets like Zymear Smith and Jaylen Gilchrist, Exinor is at the top of that list. While Exinor looked to move his official visit from June 21 to June 13, keeping his visit for this past weekend was critical to the top target changing his outlook on the hometown team. Exinor is set to announce his commitment this Friday, June 28 as Maryland remains a threat for the local, big-bodied wide receiver target. Warwick (VA) four-star SAF Messiah Delhomme Maryland is coming off a strong official visit with the top safety target with Virginia Tech viewed as the top competition and Ohio State the wildcard, though the Buckeyes have targets atop their defensive back board heading into the summer. The four-star safety fits the role as Dante Trader Jr.’s replacement and the seamless on-field fit was hammered in yet again during his official visit, while a source said Delhomme spoke glowingly about his time around the Terps’ coaches and players. Maryland developed quick, deep relationships with Delhomme at the start of his recruitment and that’s kept the Terps a steady player throughout as I’m keep close tabs on Maryland’s chances down the stretch. Delhomme is expected to make his commitment this summer with July the target and while there’s confidence in Maryland’s chances, they’ll continue to battle the Hokies into July as assistant Latrell Scott spearheads a collective staff effort to reel the top target in. Norcom (VA) four-star WR Matt Outten There are fewer prospects more reserved than Outten during the process, but with a decision expected in the coming weeks, a source told IBG that Maryland and Penn State have separated themselves from the pack and are battling for pole position with Virginia Tech running third. A source added that the driving reason the Terps are viewed as the team with the slight edge was Maryland’s attention to Outten’s mom with both their on and off-field presentations with internship opportunities one highlight – a frequent positive from official visitors during the Mike Locksley era. St. Frances (MD) CB Blake Woodby The decision to back off his Ohio State pledge was expected through the spring, but what wasn’t expected was for Woodby’s recruitment to reshape itself so quickly. IBG was at SFA when Auburn arrived for the Panthers’ practice at Under Armour Stadium in Port Covington, the start of a pursuit that quickly materialized for the Tigers. Auburn made sure they were first to host him for an official visit where they rolled out the red carpet and pulled out all the stops, and since Woodby departed from his official visit, the four-star made his way back to Auburn for a visit that turned into a committable offer for linebacker Bryce Deas, who has since joined the Tigers’ class. Auburn has juice in his recruitment with NIL looming large and questions surrounding the four-star’s interest in staying local, but sources coming out of the weekend continue to point to Maryland being under strong consideration. Woodby told IBG that his Maryland official visit was his last, pushing Oregon out of the mix with other targets on the Ducks’ board, before he makes his commitment ahead of his senior year. Monsignor Bonner (PA) three-star WR Jalil Hall Maryland hosted the tall Pa. wideout the weekend of June 6, one weekend after West Virginia, and knocked it out of the park as offensive coordinator Josh Gattis has crushed this recruitment from multiple angles. The potential in Maryland’s attractive offense has resonated with Hall, while a source close to the 6-foot-3 wide receiver told IBG that Hall was quick to note he felt comfortable during his official visit in College Park. There’s been steady confidence in Maryland’s chances ahead of his commitment set for Saturday, June 29, but his recruitment has turned into more of a battle in the closing stages with West Virginia remaining a factor until the end. I still have Hall listed as ‘hot’ on the big board, but lowered my confidence score in Tuesday’s updated recruit predictions. Related Links
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