Maryland has landed its second portal commitment after Oklahoma WR Jalil Farooq has announced his decision.
Farooq, a 6-foot-1, 208-pound wideout originally from Wise (MD), took a visit to Maryland over the weekend as head coach Mike Locksley and the staff were able to fill one of its two vacant starting roles with a productive Big 12 wide receiver. Tennessee, where his cousin Edrees Farooq plays, was also a top contender for the former four-star prospect.
Farooq now becomes the second pledge at the position this portal cycle, joining former Tennessee WR Kaleb Webb after he went public on Tuesday afternoon.
After staying through the head coaching change despite repeated rumblings of a potential departure, Farooq became a star in the Sooners offense in 2023 where he posted career-highs in catches (45) and receiving yards (694) while adding nearly 100 rushing yards on 17 carries. All 23 career starts came during his sophomore and junior seasons where he eclipsed 1,100 career receiving yards and seven touchdowns on 82 receptions.
Farooq ends his career in Norman with 89 receptions for 1,287 yards and seven touchdowns, though he was held to just three catches for 58 yards as a senior after battling injuries.
He'll now head to College Park to close out his career, stepping into the shoes left vacant by Tai Felton while head coach Mike Locksley looks to restock the wide receiver room with Kaden Prather also departing. Wide receiver was among the offseason priorities for the Terps heading into this offseason as Farooq and Webb will now team up with veteran receiver Octavian Smith among others in 2025.
Farooq was also a top target for Maryland out of high school as head coach Mike Locksley played an active part in the initial pursuit recruitment before Oklahoma ultimately lured both Farooq and Caleb Williams out to Norman. Farooq was also in the same high school class as Prather, following a similar career trajectory as a former coveted local receiver to ultimately land at Maryland out of the portal.
Like Webb, Farooq is expected to enroll in College Park in January.
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