Maryland football welcomes its first group of official visitors this month as a pair of four-stars return to campus as the staff looks to close the deal. Plus, roster note and more rumblings from the recruiting trail:
Weekend visitors Good Counsel four-star LB Aaron Chiles Skinny: After unofficially visiting for the Rutgers game last fall, when he first got a chance to meet defensive analyst Navorro Bowman, Chiles knew that Maryland would get an official visit. It took time for Maryland to solidify their standing in the mix as Notre Dame and Clemson joined the top group, but Maryland outlasted both as they’ll look to dethrone Michigan. Chiles was back on campus last weekend where he and his dad were able to reconnect with the staff before the Falcons’ took SECU Stadium for the 7-on-7 playoffs and the family will be back in College Park this weekend as they pitch the need for the local impact linebacker.
Cummings (NC) four-star WR Jonathan Paylor Skinny: the four-star first visited Maryland last fall for the Ohio State game as wide receiver coach Gunter Brewer has stayed on top of the four-star prospect through the spring, visiting him again during the spring eval period in May. There’s little doubt that its South Carolina who holds the edge for the 5-foot-9 speedster with NC State working to keep the local product home, but the Terps will have their chance with the relationship between Brewer and Paylor also strong. North Carolina shook Paylor’s schedule as they replaced Clemson on the visit list, but the Gamecocks will close the month out with the fourth and final official. Paylor’s speed as a wideout makes him an instant impact type of target as the staff conveys that this weekend with a chance to capitalize on the strength of the relationship with Brewer.
King George (VA) three-star WR Mekhai White Skinny: With the blue bloods like Michigan, LSU and Tennessee all showing interest in the long 6-foot-2 athlete, Maryland has long been in the mix for White with wide receiver coach Gunter Brewer leading the way throughout his recruitment. Along with making his way through King George both last fall and through the offseason eval periods, Brewer has made his way to northern Virginia to even watch White take the basketball court. White became enamored with the big schools through the spring and tabbed the Wolverines as his leader, but Maryland will get a chance to roll out the red carpet ahead of his decision this summer. White was originally looking to officially visit Georgia the weekend of June 16 with Kris Jones, but that’s off with current plans in place to officially visit Arkansas the weekend of June 16 then Virginia Tech the weekend of June 23. Maryland stands at ‘warm’ on the big board heading into the weekend and the expectation is White will take all three visits prior to making a decision, but the staff’s recruiting pursuit has left a good impression not just on White, but his mentors and coaches. “Brew and , they’ve both done an exceptional job recruiting our guys. Coach Locksley. We’re very complementary of Maryland and how they treat our guys,” head coach Vern Lunsford told IBG. Don’t sleep on the SEC draw of Arkansas, but there’s a belief that Maryland and Virginia Tech are the two schools in best spot heading into the month.
Clearwater (FL) LB Keyari James Skinny: Maryland holds the edge in James’ recruitment as the Canadian linebacker first made his way to campus back in March. Inside linebacker coach Lance Thompson has led the way thus far and with Wake Forest and Miami (FL) showing interest in the 6-foot-1 linebacker, the Terps have a chance to reel James in during his visit. “I do think it’s a possibility. I like to feel the vibe so we’ll see how the visit goes,” he told IBG last week. James fits as an inside linebacker for Maryland. James currently sits as ‘hot’ on the big board.
Cypress (TX) OL Samir Camacho Skinny: After plans to officially visit Cal fell apart, Camacho is now set to make his first trip to Maryland with a chance for safeties coach Zac Spavital to make a move on a newer target. Maryland stopped through Camacho’s school to watch the interior lineman last month before pulling the trigger and Spavital’s connections to the Cypress staff have kept the Terps in the mix. Kansas is in the mix for a midweek official followed by weekend visits to Duke then UTSA before a potential early July commitment.
Central Dauphin (PA) OT Anthony Robsock Skinny: After jumping in with an offer following last week’s camp, Maryland will welcome the Pennsylvania lineman to campus for the second consecutive visit, this time for his official. Maryland has been tracking the 6-foot-5 lineman through the spring and he made it to campus for the spring game to give himself an early look at the program before picking up the offer last week. Maryland holds the edge heading into the weekend and the tackle target and the physical lineman sits as ‘warm’ heading into the weekend, but heading into the weekend, Robsock’s mindset is to hold off on a commitment until early July.
Norland (FL) three-star LB Jeremiah Marcelin Skinny: the Florida linebacker received a visit from defensive coordinator Brian Williams during the spring eval period as inside linebacker coach Lance Thompson has chipped in on the inside linebacker target. Florida State, UCF and Pitt have all been linked to the 6-foot-2 linebacker but Marcelin told IBG he’s keeping his visit destination private as the reserved prospect is set to make his first trip to Maryland since picking up the offer. Marcelin sits as ‘warm’ on the big board.
Eval on Maryland’s newest OL commit
“Kalonji is a big, strong OL prospect with local ties. He played LT/RT at Coffeyville, but will likely be an interior OL for the Terps. He has tremendous length to go along with his powerful playing style. Has the lower body strength to anchor in pass protection, and drive people off the line when run blocking. Shows good balance when pulling or blocking at the second level. However, he lacks lower body flexibility & lateral quickness, which is a big reason why a move inside to guard is likely. I expect Kalonji to be in the mix to appear on the 2-Deep at either LG or RG this season. With multiple years of eligibility remaining, we could potentially see him developing into a starting guard heading into the 2024 season.”
Grade: 85
-Jake Hallett Roster Note
With the current roster now back on campus with summer workouts set to begin, the remainder of Maryland’s freshmen will enroll on June 17 while portal addition Donnell Brown is all set to join team activities full-time after completing his academic requirements from his transfer from Saint Francis. Brown, a former Riverdale Baptist product, has been on campus since January but with his academic status cleared, he’ll give the outside linebacker room the veteran piece it needs paired with an experienced inside linebacker unit.
Recruiting Notes -Maryland will welcome Kelsea Winkle as the new director of on-campus recruiting as highlighted earlier in the week, while I’m hearing that Maryland could turn to an SEC staffer to fill the vacant coordinator of player personnel position.
-As mentioned in Wednesday’s story, Maryland brought William Penn (PA) offensive tackle Michael McMonigle to campus for an unofficial visit on Wednesday where he and his dad got another tour around campus before an extended sit down with head coach Mike Locksley. Maryland has been in hot pursuit of the 6-foot-6 tackle over the last month and are positioning themselves as the team to beat heading into his official visit to Syracuse this weekend. McMonigle will return to campus once again for his official visit next weekend, June 16.
-Belen Jesuit (FL) three-star DL Gavench Marcelin and Miami Central (FL) LB Lamar Smith were two names I had for this weekend but hearing Smith’s visit is on hold while Marcelin could make his way to campus later this summer as defensive coordinator Brian Williams keeps tabs on the two targets. Loyola Blakefield (MD) offensive lineman Trevor Szymanski won’t make it in this weekend as he and Braswell are still in the process of finalizing his visit plans.
-Archbishop Spalding (MD) three-star LB Keyshawn Flowers will begin his first of three official visits this weekend when he and his family make the trip south to check out Miami (FL). The ‘Canes have confidence in their chances and have made NIL an emphasis heading into the visit. Miami is recruiting Flowers as a top target and a source in Coral Gables reiterated the Spalding star sits at the top of their linebacker board as they’ll go all out for a decision this weekend.
-After initially eyeing an official visit to Maryland last weekend, I’m hearing that Flowers (MD) offensive tackle Mike Williams has an official set elsewhere for the weekend of June 23 with visits already set to Florida this upcoming weekend and Michigan State the following weekend. With an official unlikely this month, Williams shifts back down to ‘cool’ on the big board.
-Maryland is out of the mix for four-star LB Kris Jones, who transferred from Mountain View (VA) to Fairfax (VA), but I’m hearing that Michigan State has snuck into his top group and will host him for an official visit beginning June 11.
-Sounds like before Good Counsel (MD) three-star WR Elijah Moore makes his way to Maryland for his official visit on June 23, he’ll officially visit both Florida and Michigan as the Buckeyes are the team to beat coming out of last weekend’s official.
-Maryland is squarely in the mix for Mountain View (VA) defensive lineman Eric Mensah, who is among the official visitors next weekend, with another regional battle shaping up between the Terps, Virginia and Virginia Tech. The allure of the Big Ten is one that sticks out to Mensah when it comes to the Terps, but those three schools will all get a chance to separate themselves beginning this weekend with a trip to Virginia. Mensah will also officially visit Virginia Tech the weekend of June 23, the same weekend that Mekahi White heads to Blacksburg for his official.
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