RB Harry Dalton III explains Maryland commitment, fit

Ahmed Ghafir
3 days ago
2 min read

Four portal commitments split between a pair of positions has helped head coach Mike Locksley and Maryland football restock its still positions ahead of a pivotal 2026 season, but it also marked a homecoming of sorts for the latest running back pledge.

Former USC running back and Virginia native Harry Dalton III inked with Maryland this week to join Old Dominion RB Trequan Jones in the backfield, but Dalton’s portal commitment delivered on what he hoped for when he made his name available: to play somewhere closer to home.

“That was something I was aiming for,” Dalton told IBG.

Dalton drew several interested suitors including a handful of Power Four programs, but it took one visit after entering the transfer portal to finalize his decision after arriving in College Park on Monday and departing on Tuesday.

“I don’t think it was as crazy as I thought it was going to be. It was a lot more straight-forward and focusing my mind on what I really wanted and seeing if those places had an interest in me too,” Dalton said about the portal process. “Coach [Latrell] Scott and coach [Mike] Locksley made it easy for me to feel comfortable with them and the plan they had for me was just good in my eyes. I know I’m going to be able to go into their program and excel.

Though production was limited in 2025 with Dalton posting 44 yards on eight carries as part of a deep Trojans running back room, Dalton explained what stuck about his fit at Maryland.

“Coach Locksley has a history of putting backs in the league, getting guys when he was at ‘Bama, so I know he’s ready to run the ball and I’m ready to run the ball,” he said. “It was really a mix. What stood out was when coach Locksley and I were sitting down and he said I remind him a lot of Josh Jacobs in a lot of ways. That was really a lot of what I was looking at.”

For Dalton, there’s also the other aspect of personal development as the Virginia native looks to become an efficient running back at the college level in an increased role. But for the Virginia native to initially make the cross-country move to play for the Trojans, Dalton views his transfer decision as an opportunity for growth off the field.

“I have a lot more patience coming out of USC than out of high school. It helped me grow a lot, like being out there, being so far away from home. USC was a great step in my process to get to where I want to be,” he added.

“It feels great knowing I have somewhere I can call home again.”

Dalton joins the program with all four years of eligibility remaining.

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