Maryland football wrapped up another busy weekend at home, starting with the local recruiting rounds before hosting several top 2024 targets. Maryland then fell to Purdue in a frustrating yet winnable game, giving the Terps its first home defeat of the 2022 season. They’ll move forward with a road contest against Indiana next week, but what’s the vibe in College Park? We delve into the latest.
Purdue fallout…It’s a tough defeat for a team that had a chance to move to 5-1 and a viable path at 7-1 heading into the bye week, but Maryland has a chance to get back on track. Inside the locker room? There isn’t the same sense of defeat as in years past. They’ll move forward as the team checked back into the facilities this morning. Regarding injuries, cornerback Gavin Gibson did not return to action after going down in the first half and he’ll get an MRI today, but could be out until the bye week. It’ll be another test to Maryland’s cornerback depth, but Maryland should also get defensive lineman Greg China-Rose back against Indiana.
Visitor recap…Maryland had a chance to host nearly 300 visitors on Saturday Including recruits and their families and/or guests. Ole Miss verbal Neeo Avery did quietly make it in and got extensive time with head coach Mike Locksley while the bulk of the St. Frances visitors made it onto campus. That includes four-star quarterback Mike Van Buren, who got a personal tour alongside 2025 star cornerback Blake Woodby. Van Buren was also among the handful of recruits to meet head coach Mike Locksley at midfield and take in warmups from the field. Four-star DE Dominic Nichols also returned to campus with his family, one week after taking in his first game of the season, where he and his family were once again able to take in the pregame atmosphere. One target who didn’t make it in? LSU four-star verbal Dashawn Womack, who made the cross country trip to USC. Maryland is still working to turn the tide on the local commit as Maryland, Texas A&M, Georgia and USC are working the flip but for now, Womack is sticking with the Tigers.
High school stops…Maryland made the local recruiting rounds on Friday, one being at Quince Orchard to check on four-star DE/OLB Jaylen Harvey, but one notable stop took place in Philadelphia. Maryland went to Northeast (PA) to check on Texas A&M verbal Naquil Betrand. It turns out that the three-star tackle did indeed make it to Maryland’s win over Michigan State, arriving late on gameday, as the staff returned the favor the following week to follow through on its interest. Betrand will be a longshot to flip from the Aggies but with an obvious need at tackle and Jaelyn Duncan still drawing first round buzz for next year’s draft, Maryland is taking its shot. Betrand emerged as a target earlier this summer when he was committed to Colorado and originally slated to transfer to St. Frances, but that fell through as he stays put for his senior season.
Local transfer buzz…sticking with high school talk, there’s buzz that five-star athlete Nyckoles Harbor is transferring midseason to Flowers? Why is that significant? Transferring to Flowers now gives him the chance to enroll early instead of next summer, which would have to happen had he stuck at Archbishop Carroll. With that transfer brings even more buzz that South Carolina is emerging as the team to beat for the DC phenom, while Michigan remains in the conversation. If Harbor does indeed transfer to Flowers, I like Gamecocks to land the five-star prospect as things stand while the Gamecocks emerge as a serious threat to land 2024 four-star cornerback Braydon Lee. Maryland remains in the mix and as I’ve said since late summer, head coach Mike Locksley will very likely get the last visit for a December official. Harbor has to transfer prior to the start of the second quarter in order to remain eligible this season, so if the move happens, he’ll be in a new uniform next weekend.
Pac-12 commit visiting…St. Frances (MD) defensive lineman Sam Greene has turned heads through the offseason into the fall, watching his stock soar. His film from the Panthers second scrimmage elevated his profile as more Power Five schools jump into the mix. Maryland evaluated Greene back in the spring, before he transferred to St. Frances, and left in holding pattern but officially jumped into the mix last week. Greene will now visit Maryland for the Northwestern game in two weeks and have a chance in his recruitment if they push. While schools like Texas A&M and Penn State also offered earlier in the fall, USC has a good connection to St. Frances and jumped aboard when they heard about his frame and watched tape. After USC offered, Greene asked to commit to which the Trojans and head coach Lincoln Riley gave the green light. Although the Trojans hadn’t seen Greene in-person until this weekend’s visit, his upside excites him but Greene has yet to officially close the door in his recruitment. Again, as long as Maryland makes a push, they will have a chance to change the mind of the Baltimore lineman.
Related Links
Photos: recruits check out Maryland’s game versus Purdue
Watch: Locksley, players review loss to Purdue
Miscues, stagnant offense plague Maryland in 31-29 loss to Purdue
Instant reactions: Maryland 29, Purdue 31
