Maryland football is having a productive day with its Spalding targets as three-star cornerback Jayden Shipps has gone public with his decision to stay local and commit to Maryland. Shipps, a 6-foot-1, 180-pound cornerback, committed to Maryland over NC State, South Carolina and Tennessee among others as the Terps were the first and only school to host the in-state cornerback for an official visit beginning May 30. Shipps also returned to campus for an unofficial visit this past weekend alongside current teammates, Malik Washington and Delmar White. "It’s definitely the coaching staff," Shipps told IBG about why Maryland won out. "You really get love like that. Aazaar was my first offer when I was a freshman and coach Williams gave me my second offer at Maryland. So it was like we had that bond since Aazaar was at Boston College, so that’s family now." Co-defensive coordinator Brian Williams initially led the way with the in-state target through the fall as the area recruiter, positioning the Terps inside Shipps' top group thanks to multiple visits through the 2023 season. That interest was amplified this offseason into the spring as cornerbacks coach Aazaar Abdul-Rahim was announced as the new position coach, giving Maryland another strong recruiter who quickly established a close relationship with Shipps. "They definitely changed the recruiting process when Aazaar came in. He always told me he wants to keep it in the DMV, come home." "All genuine guys up there. I love everything. The people, the coaches. Everything," Shipps told IBG after his official visit. Shipps reconnected with former high school teammate Kellan Wyatt on his visit while Lloyd Irvin also spent time with him through the weekend, but the potential seamless transition to College Park was a message that resonated with the priority target through the spring. “I grew up with Maryland and always being around the campus, knew the staff, players,” he added. “We also run Maryland’s defense basically. Our school, we take a page from the Maryland book and play Maryland defense, so I’m already accustomed to how they play and their playbook. It’s a couple of things that I can knock off that’s pretty hard in college, which is the playbook, getting used to it and knowing the campus.” But it was the feedback from players that stuck with Shipps the most during his official visit. "You really get the honest truth from the players and they all said the same thing that Locksley was telling me. Every time I asked a player, because I have a lot of former teammates up there, they all said the same stuff that the coaches are preaching. That means a lot to me. Honesty, truthfully, that means a lot to me." Shipps joins the class as a defensive back where he says he'll get a chance to play cornerback, nickel and safety while the rising senior is expected to line up as Spalding's starting safety this fall. But the Spalding product was quick to point out the similarities between his current and future defense. "I come in confident, I know the formations. I know I’ve got to learn the checks, the calls which I think should be pretty easy for me. I’m a student of the game. I study film a lot and I feel like Aazaar, coach will take their time with me and help me learn the playbook any time I want to." Jayden Shipps becomes the latest commit in Maryland's 2025 class as he joins QB Malik Washington, RB Iverson Howard, LB CJ Smith, RB Bud Coombs, WR Justin DeVaughn and OT Lamar Williams among others. Maryland has also landed at least one pledge from Spalding in each of the last four cycles, joining Keyshawn and Keion Flowers, Kellan Wyatt, Lavain Scruggs and former defensive back Jayon Venerable in College Park. Jayden Shipps is rated a three-star prospect and an 87 overall by On3, checking in as the 22nd-best prospect in Maryland. Related Links Four-star QB Malik Washington commits to Maryland, breaks down decisionFlorida LB Travares Daniels commits to Maryland, breaks down decisionFormer Maryland guard Jahmir Young agrees to deal with Denver NuggetsUpdate on four-star target (+)Ja’Kobi Gillespie on his transition to Maryland, football backgroundMaryland WR Kaden Prather among offensive players drawing NFL buzz
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