Local talent heading to College Park on Saturday
- Ahmed Ghafir
- Sep 24, 2021
- 2 min read
Maryland will welcome another crew of local talent for the non-conference season finale with a very familiar name expected on campus.
St. Frances (MD) three-star offensive tackle Andre Roye announced a surprise pledge to Penn State on Thursday night, but he’s still expected to visit Maryland on Saturday for the second time this season. Roye visited for the season-opening win over West Virginia but admitted he left at halftime while both Jaishawn Barham and Jude Bowry basked in the win, but Roye’s peculiar recruitment takes another twist despite his pledge.
Paint Branch (MD) three-star athlete Octavian Smith headlines the uncommitted recruits as he’ll visit with his coach and uncle on Saturday, marking Smith’s first visit since backing off his pledge to Northwestern. Following his decommitment, Smith told Inside the Black and Gold he holds a top five of Duke, Maryland, Northwestern, Pittsburgh, and Penn State but it’s Maryland who has the inside track at his commitment heading into the fall. Getting his parents on campus is the next step as Maryland recruits Smith as an athlete. Franklin (MD) running back Rodney Nelson does not hold an offer but is also expected to visit this weekend.
Across the 2023 class, St. Frances (MD) wide receiver Lamar Patterson will visit Maryland as the electric Florida native has been a standout on offense and special teams through the opening portion of his junior season. Patterson was originally a 2022 recruit and held a verbal offer from West Virginia before reclassifying to the 2023 class. Unity Reed (VA) linebacker Amare Campbell will make his second visit to Maryland after first visiting during the second week of June, while a handful of unoffered prospects out of DeMatha in DT Tosin Babalade, WR Kalen Cobb, and athlete Kristian Tate will visit campus. Hopewell (VA) dual-threat quarterback Mason Cumbie will also make his first visit to campus as the staff is monitoring him through his junior season, though Cumbie has already flashed his elite speed. Cumbie ran a 15.59 in the 110-meter hurdle in his first year of track this summer and was also named second-team all-region as a centerfielder, while Virginia Tech, Cincinnati, Pitt, and Marshall have shown interest since September 1. Lackey (MD) cornerback Jamari Somerville basked in the Fast Track Recruits bus tour this summer as the 5-foot-11, 185-pound cornerback is drawing Power Five interest though Boston College is the lone offer after Aazaar Abdul-Rahim connected pulled the trigger back on September 7.
The lone 2024 prospect expected this weekend is St. Paul’s (MD) defensive end Ernest Willor, a two-sport standout that suits up for Team Thrill and already holds a verbal offer from Virginia Tech.