Where defensive back recruiting stands for Maryland in 2025 cycle

Maryland won’t have to go far to restock its cornerback room with multiple DMV targets highlighting the defensive back board in the 2025 cycle. St. John’s (DC) four-star Tariq Hayer has long been a priority at the position and he has an official visit to Maryland already locked in for the weekend of June 21 as co-defensive coordinators Brian Williams and Aazaar Abdul-Rahim team up into the spring. Penn State is one to watch for McDonogh (MD) speedster Brandon Finney, but he’s one who sits high on Maryland’s board given his superior athleticism as he’s set to unofficially visit on April 6 with an official visit in the works. Whether he projects best as a cornerback or safety at the next level is fluid, but Spalding (MD) DB Jayden Shipps remains a focus and is more than familiar with the Terps having visited for multiple games in 2023 and returning for a basketball game in mid-January alongside Trent Gillis and Malik Washington. Shipps will be back on campus again for the first spring practice as part of a long list of spring visits. Jett White, a three-star out of Miami Edison (FL) who kicked off the 2025 cycle at the Army All-American game, is expected to return to campus for the first time in 18 months when he visits for the spring game. Head coach Mike Locksley has been the one to keep tabs on White, while White’s father has had recent conversations with the defensive staff as the two sides continue to build a relationship.

Dundalk (MD) cornerback Keith Barnes has his eyes on a visit to Maryland this spring, but Trinity Episcopal (VA) cornerback Terrance “Deuce” Edwards is another worth keeping tabs on.

The 6-foot, 168-pound cornerback tells IBG he plans to visit Maryland for the first spring practice on March 26 as the staff has been consistent with him heading into the spring and he’ll be on campus for the first spring practice.

Miami (FL), VT, Michigan, Michigan State, West Virginia, Louisville and Minnesota are all on his shortlist of visit destinations with OVs already locked in for Miami (FL) and West Virginia. Meanwhile, Maryland has been involved with Edwards since his sophomore season as running backs coach Latrell Scott initially spearheaded recruiting efforts and Scott has an uncommon bond with his Virginia target. “He’s family. He’s married to my cousin’s mom’s sister and he’s real close with my pops,” Edwards told IBG. The arrival of new cornerbacks coach Aazaar Abdul-Rahim made Edwards’s interest in Maryland even stronger.

“I’ve known coach Aazaar since he was at Boston College. I was tight with him when he was there. Shoot, he had me thinking about going to Boston College then he went to Maryland and I was like oh snap, they’re on my list now too.”

Scott and Aazaar have since teamed up on the pursuit with Maryland entrenched in his top group as the two sides work on dates for a June official visit. Rated a three-star prospect and an 87 overall by On3, Edwards fits in as a nickel cornerback and one who is plenty familiar with Maryland having visited multiple times through his high school career, most recently last summer for an unofficial visit. Virginia Tech and West Virginia are two to watch moving forward while the ‘Canes have been consistent heading into the spring, but the relationship between Edwards and Maryland makes the Terps a realistic player.

Still, Ohio St. verbal Blake Woodby remains a prime flip target as he’s made his way to campus since the arrival of Aazaar Abdul-Rahim with Virginia Tech and Oregon also pushing the Buckeyes heading into the spring. Woodby is expected to take an official visit to Maryland in June with buzz that the Terps are the school in best position to flip him in the fall. Maryland would also love to flip Zymear Smith from Alabama after pulling the trigger on his commitment last weekend, but that might be a tall task with his recruitment in holding pattern since. Meanwhile, Maryland has also kept tabs on a pair of local cornerbacks — Gonzaga (DC) Devenchi “Deuce” Arnold and Quince Orchard (MD) Aydan West – as they could make their way for a visit. Numbers are fluid at the position this cycle with two or three more cornerbacks in the class a chance to elevate the floor of the room, but Maryland has a chance to infuse the room with quality local talent after Kevyn “Kerm” Humes, Braydon Lee, Lloyd Irvin and Judah Jenkins all signed to the 2024 class.

Meanwhile, the safety board is spearheaded by a pair of blue-chip prospects in Faheem Delane and Messiah Delhomme with the Terps expected to receive an official visit from both. Delane has long been a priority target and arguably the top overall target this cycle as the five-star has Oregon and Ohio State at the top. Maryland originally prioritized Delane through his junior season before surprisingly missing on his top group, but the consistency from assistant James Thomas and the arrival of Aazaar Abdul-Rahim has given the Terps quiet optimism as they’re expected to secure an official, possibly in early June. Meanwhile, Delhomme is currently expected to visit the last weekend in March for an unofficial visit with practice in full swing then return for his official visit the weekend of June 21. Ohio State is the wildcard in his recruitment while Virginia Tech has gone above and beyond to prioritize Delhomme, but Maryland has been squarely in the mix since the arrival of Latrell Scott as he gives the program a plug into Virginia’s top talent. Topping the Hokies will be easier said than done, but the Terps getting the last crack gives them a chance to reel in a target they’ve been high on for nearly a year.

Maryland also made the top ten for blue-chip safety JaDon Blair but isn’t expected to be a factor moving forward despite Blair telling IBG he’s working on a date to visit this spring, but Spalding (MD) defensive back Trent Gillis remains a name to know along the backline. A team captain at Spalding and one of the most productive starters on defense, Gillis is one that head coach Kyle Schmitt speaks glowingly about as the Terps as co-defensive coordinator Brian Williams has kept tabs on the 6-foot-1, 175-pound safety through his junior year. He has not yet confirmed a visit date with IBG though a return alongside Shipps and Washington for Maryland’s first spring practice on the 26^th is possible. Nonetheless, the Spalding DB is expected back on campus as Maryland remains an active player in the chase, while Bel Air (MD) safety Julien Horton is working on a date to visit campus this spring.

Where defensive back recruiting stands for Maryland in 2025 cycle

Ahmed Ghafir