Maryland’s 2024 class started last year when German three-star LB Justin Okoronkwo announced his commitment shortly after his visit for the Ohio State game. As the staff begins working diligently on the 2024 cycle, we take a look at the five most important recruits this cycle. St. Frances (MD) four-star QB Mike Van Buren Maryland, Oregon and Penn State sit in the top group for the four-star quarterback, who included Miami, Wisconsin, Virginia Tech, Cincinnati and Oklahoma in his top eight back in December. Head coach Mike Locksley and inside linebacker coach Lance Thompson have done well over the last year tapping into Saint Frances to get the underclassmen on campus and the Terps were trending as a legitimate player heading into last summer. Maryland is still in that top group, but they’ll need to now overcome building a relationship with the new offensive coordinator once that’s filled. Former OC Dan Enos did well chipping away with MVB dating back to last spring, having the blue-chip QB sit in meetings, attend games and become a frequent visitor in College Park. The good news is that Van Buren is aware it’s still Mike Locksley’s offense, but they’ll need to pick up the slack with the new OC. The four-star target could commit shortly after the spring eval period or opt to hold off until June to leverage his official visits. Good Counsel (MD) three-star WR Elijah Moore Maryland has a handful of viable receiver targets who have a chance to play on Sundays and Moore is among them. If you ask the 6-foot-3 wideout if he’s a tight end, he’ll laugh, and his game tape shows that. Moore’s wide catch radius and bounce, which is also evident on the hardwood, make him a one-on-one nightmare. Off the field, you won’t have to worry about him. Moore has connections close to him that help Maryland’s chances in his recruitment and with schools like LSU, Ohio State, Oregon and Michigan also in pursuit, Moore isn’t any closer to making a decision on where he’ll play his college ball. But Maryland will be in it until the end. https://twitter.com/3lijahmoore/status/1617947753065353219 Good Counsel (MD) four-star LB Aaron Chiles Maryland has a pair of local targets in Chiles and Kris Jones, but Chiles takes the cake as the leader of the Falcons’ defense and undoubtedly one of the best linebackers in the country. Maryland is a schools that’s firmly in the mix and early intel still points to the Terps getting the four-star on campus for an official visit in June. Michigan, Notre Dame, Penn State and Florida are schools also on Chiles’ radar as he keeps his list open heading into the spring. Chiles recently told IBG he’ll be back on campus for a spring practice as outside linebacker coach James Thomas continues to lead his recruitment. Good Counsel (MD) four-star RB Dilin Jones The soft-spoken local running back is one of two priorities at the position, but I give the nod to Jones because he has the potential to be an all-purpose back at the next level similar to how he led the Falcons’ offense in 2022. Maryland was the last school to host the 5-foot-11, 180-pound back and his mom when they made the trip in for the Nebraska game last month and while schools like West Virginia and Kentucky have been mentioned, Jones has kept his recruitment very much open in the early stages. Quince Orchard (MD) four-star OLB Jaylen Harvey There’s no denying that Penn State has the edge in the four-star’s recruitment, but Maryland has worked to chip away in his recruitment. The staff has worked hard to build relationships around Harvey as the once hot then cold recruitment is back to warm. I have Harvey over local four-star Dom Nichols because of Harvey’s consistency on the field, while his length and burst for his size is what makes him such a disruptive force at the line of scrimmage. Maryland made Harvey’s top 11 back in December as he’ll look towards a likely summer commitment. Considered: Milford Mills (MD) three-star QB Deshawn Purdie, King George four-star Chanz Wiggins, Good Counsel (MD) three-star Kyle Altuner, Good Counsel (MD) three-star Darien Mayo, Pallotti (MD) four-star Gabe Williams Related Links Paul VI forward Garrett Sundra becoming familiar face in College Park (+) Maryland shell shocked by Loyola (MD) in 12-7 loss Hakim Hart’s 23 points lead Maryland over Penn State at home Player grades: Maryland 74, Penn State 68 2024 WCAC guard returning to College Park (+) Shell-N-Tell: The Found Identity
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