The offseason is essentially here in college football as fans have started to notice the first wave of intended portal entries ahead of the Dec. 4 window opening. Heading into Monday night, no Maryland players have announced their intention to enter the transfer portal as Mike Locksley is days removed from closing the book on year five as head coach.
There’s a lot more buzz about stay-or-go decisions than outgoing attrition heading down the stretch. I still like the eventual odds that LB Donnell Brown is back for a second season in College Park, but there’s plenty of time before the Riverdale Baptist product makes his final decision. Brown is far from the only veteran that the Terps are in position to return with multiple players weighing decisions coming out of the regular season finale. I'm hearing that it's more likely than not that RB Roman Hemby returns for the 2024 season, a sentiment that he and his camp have become growingly on board with over the last three weeks of the season. Hemby is coming off his second 100-yard rushing game of the season and would give the Terps ammo for a rushing attack that’ll be leaned on more in a post-Taulia Tagovailoa era (yes, that was weird to write).
In the secondary, I also expect safety Glen Miller to return for his redshirt senior season where he and Dante Trader Jr. could take over as the new starting safety tandem. Miller started five games and added versatility to the secondary, filling in for Beau Brade at safety vs. Virginia before taking over as the nickel corner. The Florida native should get a chance to become an impact player in the Terps’ secondary next season.
In recruiting, coaches will begin hitting the road next week with the thick of recruiting heating up, but with 19 commits publicly in the fold, I like Maryland’s chances to hold onto its 2024 class as the staff fans out to check on their commits ahead of the early signing period on Dec. 20. Evans (FL) four-star Brandon Jacob and DeMatha (MD) three-star Terez Davis have drawn outside interest, notably from Miami (FL) and Penn State, but multiple contacts from both camps have reiterated in recent weeks they’re locked in with Maryland. King George (VA) three-star Mekhai White continues to keep an open line, but the situation remains the same with space a question mark. I am hearing, though, that Virginia is the school pushing hardest down the stretch.
Meanwhile, I continue to hear buzz surrounding Maryland’s chances of ultimately landing in Las Vegas for the bowl game. I mentioned on Sunday morning that the Las Vegas Bowl is getting the most buzz for Maryland's bowl destination.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/0dLldO2GUzzrnJoWtXYmDH?si=a49a4a036ea4414e
Related Links