Maryland Flips Four-Star DE Neeo Avery

Maryland’s headline flip in the 2023 class is in.

Good Counsel (MD) four-star defensive end Neeo Avery has flipped his commitment from Ole Miss to Maryland, inking with the Terps this morning.

The 6-foot-4.5, 225-pound defensive end has been one of Maryland’s primary flip targets down the stretch as head coach Mike Locksley and outside linebacker coach James Thomas led the pursuit down the stretch. Ever since the Jones Hill House was unveiled last summer, Maryland was able to get the elite in-state pass rusher on campus several times to gradually build the relationship. Avery, a former Penn State verbal, took an official visit to Maryland the first weekend of June before trekking to Kentucky, Oregon and Ole Miss. Avery gave the Rebels his verbal back on July 31, the same day he was expected in College Park, but the staff was never deterred. Avery returned to College Park for Maryland’s 27-13 over Michigan State where he got a chance to reconnect with the staff in the hours leading up to kickoff.

Maryland worked on him all the way into the hours of Wednesday morning as he headlines a strong haul along the defensive line. Avery joins Lavon Johnson, Dillan Fontus and DJ Samuels for Brian Williams’s unit returning one starter from last year. Avery missed roughly half of his senior season recovering from a torn ACL suffered in the spring, but returned ahead of Good Counsel’s WCAC run.

Avery’s commitment also gives Maryland its first pledge from Good Counsel since 2019 when Mason Lunsford inked with the program. After landing his former teammate Dylan Gooden over the weekend, the Terps now have a stronger presence at Good Counsel with an elite slew of talent coming out of Olney, Maryland in the 2024 and 2025 classes. Avery is rated a composite four-star and the 317th-best prospect nationally, checking in as the sixth-best prospect in Maryland. Related Links Maryland flips NC State safety Tamarcus Cooley NSD: Maryland closing in on 2023 class Tuesday evening buzz (+)