Local DB set to visit Maryland: "they're top two and not two"

The second half of January has allowed head coach Mike Locksley and his staff to hit the recruiting trail where they've been able to make the local rounds, shifting attention toward the 2025 class while building the foundation for the 2026 class. After two weeks of the staff out and about, Locksley and his staff will welcome a handful of local visitors to campus on Sunday when head coach Kevin Willard and Maryland welcomes Michigan State for a noon tipoff inside Xfinity. 2025 North Caroline four-star safety Zymear Smith has never visited Maryland for a football game before, but Sunday will mark his second visit to campus for a basketball game as the 5-foot-10, 160-pound athlete tells IBG he's set to unofficially visit for the Michigan State basketball game. "It's been nothing but love man. that's all I'm looking for. Just building up that relationship with the coaches," Smith told IBG. "I'd say Maryland has definitely stepped it up. We've just been talking and talking. Everything's been going good." Boston College was the first offer back in late October Aazaar Abdul-Rahim leading the way, one week before Maryland's in-person evaluation led the Terps to extend an offer to Smith. His familiarity with the home team along with his relationship with Abdul-Rahim has the Terps in good standing early. Abdul-Rahim worked with former juco cornerback JC Jackson before heading to the NFL, while his pursuit of local athlete Deonte Banks set the Terps up with an NFL-caliber defensive back. Smith's trust in Abdul-Rahim's development adds an early sense of trust to Maryland's early pursuit. "I'm feeling them. I know he's going to use me. He's going to get me right. I'm ready for it, man." Kentucky, South Carolina, Maryland, Texas, Syracuse, West Virginia, Tennessee, Virginia Tech, Penn State and Cincinnati are among the verbal offers so far while West Virginia was the latest school to stop by his school on Wednesday. Maryland, though, has solidified their standing early. "It's a couple of other schools but I feel like Maryland just blew everything away. The way I feel about them, the relationships I've been building with the coaches. I definitely want to meet coach Locksley, meet coach Rahim because I haven't met them before but I'm always talking to them on the phone. It's just now about putting a face to the name." "I'll say they're top two and not two," Smith said about where Maryland stands in his recruitment. Zymear Smith was named an all-state selection at running back after posting just under 1,100 all-purpose yards and 12 total touchdowns as a junior, but projects as a defensive back at the next level. He is not yet rated by On3, but is a four-star and the ninth-best prospect in Maryland. Related Links What Kevin Willard said after Maryland's loss vs. NorthwesternYoung’s 36 points not enough for Maryland in 72-69 loss vs. Northwestern’25 Good Counsel DL Delano Brown eyeing return visit to Maryland (+) The Shell Report: ’25 DeMatha WR Emmanuel DysonTaulia Tagovailoa entering 2024 NFL Draft with waiver expected to be deniedMaryland checks on local four-star, eyeing visit to campus (+)