The bulk of the recruiting efforts this month have been focused on two areas: solidifying the 2025 board and evaluating the ever-changing transfer portal. Maryland is expected to host a portal target on Friday afternoon as former Michigan TE Matthew Hibner makes his way to College Park for an unofficial visit. Hibner has been a name to track ever since he entered the transfer portal back on Jan. 16 with assistant Kevin Sumlin driving contact for the Terps, but the relationship between Hibner and Billy Edwards Jr. has kept the Terps a consistent player through the race given their friendship that dates back to high school. A source added that the two have kept in frequent touch since Hibner entered the portal earlier this month. SMU extended Hibner an offer on Thursday, but ever since the blocking tight end target entered the portal, there’s been steady confidence in the Terps’ chances to address its key position of need.
Heading into the weekend, there isn’t an expectation that Hibner commits, but the Terps could find themselves on the cusp of a high school pledge as Maryland is trending for another prospect on the defensive side of the ball.
St. Frances (MD) fringe four-star cornerback Kevyn Humes announced his decision to reclassify at the start of the new year with Maryland, Notre Dame, Penn State, Syracuse, Florida and USC in the mix. The Terps have been heating up since the arrival of co-defensive coordinator and cornerbacks coach Aazaar Abdul-Rahim even after signing four cornerbacks during the December signing period.
Syracuse proved itself to be a formidable challenger early in the race after being the first school to host him for an official visit back on Jan. 12, but the Terps have continued to challenge the Orange and first-year head coach Fran Brown down the stretch. In fact, Thursday’s intel has pointed to the Terps being the team to beat in his recruitment and confidence is high in Maryland’s chances to ink the local speedster. With that, I’ve bumped Humes to ‘HOT’ on the big board.
Humes had plans to return to Syracuse this weekend, but I’m hearing that visit won’t take place as of Thursday evening. Maryland remains a possibility to host him for an official visit next weekend, Feb. 2, the likely weekend before the February signing period. Humes unofficially visited last Sunday for the basketball game vs. Michigan State where the 5-foot-11, 170-pound cornerback reconnected with lead recruiter Aazaar Abdul-Rahim, a hire that’s paid dividends in the race. Humes was initially slated to make his commitment on signing day but could opt to move up his timeline heading into next week.
Meanwhile, St. John’s (DC) three-star Shamar McIntosh is still expected to sign with the program on Feb. 7 after wrapping up his outstanding academic requirements. That’s expected to wrap up Maryland’s 2024 class with 22 pledges currently in the fold and buzz that a 23rd could be in the works for head coach Mike Locksley’s class.
The second and final signing period in the 2024 cycle begins on Feb. 7.
Kevyn Humes is rated a three-star prospect and an 88 overall by On3, sitting as the 17th-best prospect in Maryland.
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