Pallotti Linebacker Daniel Wingate Commits to Maryland
- Ahmed Ghafir
- Jul 6, 2022
- 3 min read
Pallotti (MD) outside linebacker Daniel Wingate has announced his commitment to Maryland.
Wingate joins his teammate, safety Alex Moore, in the Terps class after the two took a midweek official beginning June 21. It didn’t take long for Wingate to let the staff know the pending news after he wrapped up his visit. “The second day of the official visit. After the meeting I had with coach [Lance] Thompson then the dinner, I talked it over with my brother and after those two moments I felt like I was at home,” Wingate told Inside the Black and Gold. “I talked it over with my parents and the rest is history.”
The Pallotti duo had to cut their official visit a few hours early as Pallotti prepared for 7-on-7 tournaments at Akron, Pitt and Toledo and eventually won both tournaments at Pitt and Toledo, but Wingate let the staff know where he was headed shortly after leaving. “My mindset, I was going to make the decision after I went home and talked it with my parents but on the ride leaving coach [Mike] Locksley’s house, I just felt like it was the right time to commit.”
Wingate has made himself a familiar visitor since last summer with running backs coach Elijah Brooks leading the pursuit for the Terps. “Local guy, everybody knew he was a good guy the way he was able to keep in touch and have regular conversations with me. Not only looking at Maryland but what to look for in colleges,” Wingate added. “The way they were able to keep in touch with me since tenth grade. They’ve been showing the most love, been keeping up with me, their program how they help kids even if they don’t make it to the NFL they still try to get you a nice working job and set you up for life.”
The rangy linebacker returned to campus back in late January then again for spring practice while Pallotti returned to campus for Maryland’s 7-on-7 the first weekend of June. He fits as an outside linebacker in Maryland’s current 3-4 scheme while Wingate says he joins the class as a hybrid linebacker. “I think I play the same at both positions but inside, I’m able to play sideline to sideline better. Outside restricts me to one side of the field but when I’m inside, I feel like I can play the ball better.”
West Virginia and Virginia Tech have shown interest while Penn State, Old Dominion, Coastal Carolina and Boston College were some of the schools to extend verbal offers during his recruitment, but Wingate’s time in College Park convinced him to stay closer to home for college. “Being on campus showed me I didn’t really know Maryland for what it was. The college is a totally different atmosphere and it’s an atmosphere that I love.”
Wingate transferred into Pallotti from Riverdale Baptist where he played under then-head coach and former Maryland running back LaMont Jordan. Head coach Mike Locksley and the staff have added ample local flavor in June as Wingate becomes the 15th commitment in the class and joins Moore, St. Frances receiver Ryan Manning, St. John’s (DC) receiver Sean Williams, McDonogh interior lineman Tamarus Walker, Loyola Blakefield tight end AJ Szymanski and Wise defensive back Mykel Morman.
“I love that part. That’s another reason why I didn’t see staying in Maryland was a bad decision because I see all the local guys we’ve got, we can take Maryland and make them one of the top teams in the league so if we keep bringing in locals, sounds good to me.”
He is not yet rated by On3.
Related Links
