Recruiting

VIP: Four-Star Update, Former ACC Safety, Upcoming Visitors

I’m not sure I’ve ever had two VIP posts like this in the same day (here’s the first), but welcome to December in the Mike Locksley era. In addition to the tidbit on Jeshaun Jones, the latest on what else I’m hearing from the recruiting trail with roughly one week to go in the 2023 cycle:

Maryland is competing against Nebraska, Florida and Kentucky for four-star OLB Rico Walker. Kentucky made it a battle with an official visit this past weekend while Nebraska sent several assistants to check in on the Hickory (NC) standout. I’m still hearing that Maryland is in pole position in the race and wide receiver coach Gunter Brewer will make a stop on Thursday to check in on him in person. Despite the prolonged chase, confidence remains steady here.
Maryland is also still very much in the hunt for NC State verbal Tamarcus Cooley. I’m on the cusp of moving him to ‘warmer’ on the big board. NC State is doing everything it can to hang onto him and I see his recruitment playing into signing day with the Terps chipping away. Maryland will also welcome a pair of safeties for official visits this weekend—Avantae Williams and Bishop Fitzgerald. Right now, Maryland has two safety spots. There’s confidence on Cooley, which leaves one spot between Williams and Fitzgerald. I’ve long felt that should Maryland give the green light to Fitzgerald at the end of the official, they’d be able to get him into the fold. With Williams, inside linebacker coach Lance Thompson will be in to see him on Wednesday with the staff chipping away. Nonetheless, Maryland should likely have an answer for one of those spots this weekend to address that position.
I’ve already mentioned that five-star ATH Nyckoles Harbor and OT Tosin Babalade are expected on campus on Wednesday night. I’m also hearing that a large group from Freedom (VA) will be in attendance, as will Oakdale duo Dominic Nichols and Evan Austin. Austin is a super athletic prospect who has room to grow into his frame still, but he’s one who is high on Maryland early. As for Nichols, there’s work left to do but he keeps showing up at Maryland through the fall as Wednesday night will give him a good atmosphere to experience in College Park.
Maryland got a chance to trek through Virginia this week where the staff saw both Chanz Wiggins and Mekhai White. White has made numerous trips to Maryland over the years, while Wiggins is expected to return to campus with his mom on Saturday to watch practice.