Priority target to visit one school before decision

Quince Orchard (MD) four-star edge rusher Jaylen Harvey was dominant in Friday night’s scrimmage at Loyola Blakefield, routinely forcing Blakefield’s QB outside the pocket.

The 6-foot-2, 250-pound edge rusher has one more tune up next Friday against Paint Branch. After that, it’ll likely be a busy next week for the four-star and his family.

Right after next week’s scrimmage, Harvey and his parents will make the trip out west where they’ll get a chance to see USC one last time when the Trojans open the season against San Jose State. “I just want to see how they coach their players. If they’re up or down, how they’re coaching their guys,” Harvey told IBG. The Trojans have become a darkhorse down the stretch and now that they’re making the move to the Big Ten, they’re looking to ride momentum into his decision. “When I went up there, they told me I can be a game-changer there. After that, I loved it.”

The school to host Harvey before that? Maryland. Harvey took his official visit to Maryland back on June 23 before returning on July 29 to reconnect with the staff once more. The path to early playing time helps Maryland’s chances down the stretch as the local target has given the Terps serious consideration.

“[Mike] Locksley is doing a good job. He’s trying to win a championship and that’s what I’m trying to do, so we have a really good connection,” Harvey added. The love that Harvey and his parents have for outside linebacker coach James Thomas helped Maryland chip away throughout his recruitment, and the consistency has remained the same down the stretch.

“Texting or calling every day, checking up on me and my family, making sure we’re straight.”

Penn State, meanwhile, is working to hold onto a lead that they held for over a year in this recruitment as they were the first school to host him for an official. “They’ve been recruiting me since I was a freshman. They’ve been coaching me through some things and just the relationship that I’ve got with them is very high.”

NIL has been a hurdle for the Nittany Lions, but Harvey has stayed focused on the football side of his decision. “They’ve talked to my manager about that. I let my manager handle that and I stay focused on the football side.”

After he returns from USC, Harvey will bunker down with head coach John Kelley before finalizing his decision with his parents. As for when his commitment will be announced, that isn’t too far off.

“It’ll probably be the week of our first game or the third game of the season against Stone Bridge. I’m trying to get it to where I’ll do it at halftime.”

Harvey is now rated a high three-star and an 89 overall by On3, sitting as the 11th-best player in Maryland.

Related Links

In-depth notes on priority target (+)

Local lineman gets first look at Maryland, eyeing return for Virginia game(+)

Top-25 prospect Khani Rooths schedules Maryland official visit

Where Maryland football recruiting in the 2024 class stands heading into the season (+)

After Italy trip, what to expect from Maryland basketball in 2023-24 (+)