Maryland didn’t have to wait long to add a commitment during its first official visit weekend of the offseason as St. John’s (DC) three-star safety Shamar McIntosh announced his pledge following his official visit.
McIntosh, a 6-foot-2, 185-pound defensive back, ended his St. John’s career as a first-team All-WCAC selection after drawing verbal offers from Pitt, Virginia Tech, Tennessee, Marshall, USF and West Virginia among others. Maryland was the first and only school to host the local three-star as the Terps have been consistent with McIntosh through the fall.
“It was great to just sit down with coach [Mike] Locksley and hear from him on the right things to do and talk to the rest of the coaching staff and make me feel at home,” McIntosh told IBG. “I feel like something that really caught on to me is when coach Locks was talking to us, he wants us to achieve stuff after football and the mentorship we have at Maryland will set us up for after football life. Getting an education is the first thing he’s worried about, getting us a diploma to be successful in life.”
Defensive coordinator Brian Williams led the way with the DC safety throughout as McIntosh also visited Maryland for the Virginia game.
“I feel like the relationship just keeps getting better and better every time I speak with Maryland,” McIntosh told IBG in November. “They’ve got a lot of guys who’ve kept in close touch with me so I’ve noticed that.”
McIntosh flashed his ball-hawking traits with multiple interceptions as a senior, though consistently made a name for himself as a strong tackler in space. McIntosh’s relationship with Williams and safeties coach Zac Spavital have also given the safety a chance to see how he fits into the Terps’ scheme with Beau Brade and Dante Trader Jr. currently leading the room.
“As a safety and the safeties they’ve got now, I feel like it’s a good fit and the perfect role so I can step in to replace them when the time comes if I go there. [Head coach Mike Locksley] been texting my coaches and stuff about me a lot too.”
There was one safety that stuck out to McIntosh in particular this season: Glen Miller.
“I like how he pursues the ball and I talked to coach [Brian] Williams about him. He was talking about how he had a long journey, he had to work his way through and get up so when he got to shine, he’s showing out and been playing good. That’s the kind of player that I can be.”
McIntosh was able to delve into his fit in a revamped safety room now led by Dante Trader Jr. “I feel like I fit well with the program and this safety group coming up. We can do big things.”
Freshman cornerback Mykel Morman hosted McIntosh during his official visit. “Me and Mykel been playing with each other since youth ball, basketball and football. That’s another reason he was my host. We’re very close.”
McIntosh becomes the second safety to join Maryland’s 2024 class, alongside four-star safety Brandon Jacob.
Shamar McIntosh is rated a three-star prospect and an 85 overall by On3, sitting as the seventh-best prospect in DC.
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