Mike Locksley on DeJuan Williams, Mekhai White, Khristian Martin, OL haul

Maryland nearly wrapped up its 21-man recruiting class on Wednesday as three local prospects—Braydon Lee, Judah Jenkins, Logan Bennett—officially joined the fold in arguably head coach Mike Locksley’s most complete class to-date. Maryland will welcome nine early enrollees to campus with Braydon Lee and Lloyd Irvin among the freshmen set to join the team for practice this week, but the premium on the trenches was evident this cycle after signing eight offensive linemen. “Very much needed. The last couple of years we've graduated four starters a year ago. This year, we were able to build some depth and bring in guys like Gottlieb Ayedze and Corey Bullock, who were able to fill some needs. But this year was a big emphasis,” Locksley said on BTN on Wednesday. “A year ago, line was the big emphasis. This year for us is offensive line. And if you look at the way we've recruited the high school student-athlete, we're still one of those programs that are going to recruit high school football players and develop them. And as we all know, that line position with high school players tends to be a two, three-year process. And so we went out and signed some transfer portal linemen to allow us time to develop this group. But I see this group being kind of the cornerstone for us as we build on the foundation has been laid down.” St. Frances (MD) running back DeJuan Williams was a top priority at the beginning of the cycle with the staff hopeful to snag at least one of the elite in-state backs. After missing his senior season with a torn ACL, Williams is set to resume rehab upon enrolling in College Park next semester but the big-play ability that the 5-foot-11, 200-pound back showed as a junior jumped out to Maryland. “I think it starts with, when you look at him on film when he was healthy, the ability to hit the home run. He’s a very physical runner and he's compactly built. Shows great balance and body control, catches the ball out of the backfield. He had the knee injury but is already back running already. And then he's the guy that'll be here early, so it will be able to continue the rehab process. But when you watch him on tape and you look and see the type of teams that recruited him, even after the injury, he's a big get for us and a needed get for us here locally.” Meanwhile, Maryland went out and signed one quarterback in the 2024 cycle after beating Virginia for three-star Khristian Martin, who head coach Mike Locksley said reminded him of a former NFL quarterback. “Khristian’s a big arm kid. Having recruited him a long time and seeing his development, his growth, he's about 6-foot-4.5, he's a 205 pound guy, 210 pound guy. He kind of reminds me, old enough to remember what Byron Leftwich looked like coming out of high school,” Locksley added, which is the same comparison that IBG reported after Martin’s commitment. “He's got some Byron Leftwich throwing talent. Strong arm, really sharp kid. A guy that’s graduating high school with about 30 or more credits from college. He's not your typical high school guy. He's staying in there the full semester finishing up there in June and be here right after that. But one of those guys that had the strong arm, accurate, smart and we like that in our quarterback.” Martin threw for nearly 2,400 yards and posted 30 touchdowns to just one interception before being named co- co-All-Metro Player of the Year honors from the Richmond Times-Dispatch as a junior. Martin will have another Virginia native to throw to with Mekhai White already in College Park as he’ll join the team for bowl practices. Maryland’s near two-year pursuit of the 6-foot-3 receiver didn't end until days before the three-star prospect had to put pen to paper, but with his signing official, White gives the receiver room a long wideout that Locksley envisioned as “one of those outside threats.” “Really athletic, really talented. One of those guys that takes advantage of the 50-50 ball. Probably one of the better athletes need as talented as he is as a receiver, I was even more impressed watching their state championship game and the way he played physically. And to me, he kind of reminds me of the Dontay Demus, a young Demus. Has the ability to come in and make an impact in our program early. He’s one of those guys that'll be practicing with us in the next couple of days as an early enrollee, so really excited to get Mekhai on board and to be able to sneak into the state of Virginia out of King George and get a guy of his caliber. He played in the state championship. Really excited about Mekhai and what he'll bring to the table for us.” Of course, one of the biggest storylines on the national landscape surrounding Maryland is who will replace Taulia Tagovailoa as the starter in 2024. While former NC State quarterback MJ Morris remains unsigned and Locksley can’t directly comment on the portal addition, Maryland’s head coach reiterated the open competition heading into the spring. “Whether it’s the transfer from another school to not be named or Billy Edwards Jr. or Cam Edge, we've recruited to that position and feel really comfortable about the guys that are in the program but obviously with the advantage of the transfer portal, to be able to go out and bring in a guy...to compete for the heir apparent, it makes us better.  So really excited about the way this thing has shaped out on signing day.” “Really happy with the guys in our program, but we've also been able to create some value and add some value to our team with the way a signing day has gone thus far. Still working.” https://open.spotify.com/episode/06VFLB2Tk2Ol2ijqunjTkC?si=135284507a8d45b8 Related Links RB Antwain Littleton expected to enter the transfer portalBraydon Lee, mom break down signing day flip to Maryland (+) Young Terps: signing day show recapping Maryland football’s 2024 classWhere Maryland football recruiting stands after day one of early signing period (+) Maryland flips South Carolina pledge Braydon Lee on signing day