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Josh Kaltenberger ready to begin journey as Maryland's next center

Addressing the offensive line has been a point of emphasis for Maryland not just on the high school trail, but in the portal with a need to replace multiple starters in 2024. Former Bowling Green cornerback Jalen Huskey became the first portal commitment for Maryland while quarterback MJ Morris announced days later. Hours after the Terps landed their portal target, Maryland had also landed its first piece in the trenches after former Purdue lineman Josh Kaltenberger announced his intention to transfer to Maryland. “What stuck out to me for Maryland was just the coaches, really. Coach Locksley, coach Gattis, coach Braswell,” he told IBG. “They're amazing coaches. You can tell that just by talking to them and also just hearing them talk about football.” Kaltenberger, a 6-foot-5, 300-pound lineman originally from Cranberry Township (PA), picked up an offer from Maryland five days after announcing his intention to enter the portal. Days later, the Big Ten transfer took a one-day official visit to Maryland before embarking on four more visits. “Coach Gattis was the first one to reach out to me. We really connected, really hit it off. Then after that I was able to meet with coach Braswell, hear from him, learn from him,” Kaltenberger told IBG. It was Kaltenberger’s second visit to campus on Dec. 13 that set the stage for his commitment after reconnecting with the Terps’ staff. https://twitter.com/jkalt54/status/1737980213877764233 “That second visit, I was able to get some questions that I had answered and really just fell in love with the coaches, fell in love with the program,” he added. “I was also able to see the area a little bit more and the apartment complex that I'd be living at. At the end of that visit, I knew that I was going and I decided this was going to be my home.” Kaltenberger cited the facilities as a highlight during his two trips to campus, but the experience that Brian Braswell and Mike Locksley offer resonated most with the likely starter. “ has a lot of experience, coaching college ball, coaching NFL. He has a lot of knowledge. That's another huge draw to Maryland. I'm excited to play for him. And of course coach Locksley. Everybody sees it, I saw it when I got to talk to him. Great leadership. You can tell he's a great leader and he invests in his players. With all of that, all that together, I knew it'd be home.” Staying within the Big Ten had its own appeal, too. “For me, it was just trying to find the best fit and that also, playing in the Big Ten, does mean a lot.” The experience that Kaltenberger brings to the new-look offensive line doesn’t go unnoticed either. After redshirting in 2020, he drew seven starts in 36 appearances over the last three seasons. His first career start came against Indiana in 2022, closing out the season as the starting center against Michigan in the Big Ten Championship then against LSU in the Citrus Bowl. He was able to showcase his versatility in 2023, starting at center against both Virginia Tech and Syracuse before moving along the line to start at right tackle against Minnesota and Northwestern. Now that he’s in College Park, Kaltenberger is focused on taking over as the starter at position as Brian Braswell is tasked with filling a role that Mike Purcell and Aric Harris split in 2023. “I know there's competition and I know you have to work for your position but in my mind, I'm coming into this as in my mind I'm going to be the starting center and know I have to go earn that spot. I look forward to earning that day in and day out, but that's the spot.” Josh Kaltenberger joins the program with two years to play one. Related Links

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