August Will Be Busy Month for Terps Targets
Mandatory Credit: Beth Hall-USA TODAY Sports
As August approaches, and with the 2013 college football season on the horizon, it is time to get back into football mode. And what better way to get into a football state of mind than some football recruiting updates.
After a relatively slow June and July on the recruiting front, August will certainly bring the heat by way of commitments. Whether these commitments will bring cheers or boos from Terps fans remains to be seen. Either way, August will be a busy month for the coaching staff, who hope to bring in key pieces to the Terps first Big Ten class. Here are a few key recruits who look to make their pledge in August:
Jesse Aniebonam (DE, Good Counsel): Aniebonam has come out and said that he will make his college choice when his Falcons take on Gilman August 23rd. The stud DE, who will take part in the US Army All-American Game, has the Terps high on his list, where they have sat for some time. Many recruiting experts believe the Terps are the team to beat, with schools like Virginia Tech, Clemson, UNC and Ohio State trailing. Virginia Tech still remains the biggest threat to a Terps pledge, but Maryland’s hard work should pay off, and would be a wonderful way to kick off the 2013 season.
Rick Leonard (DE, Middletown): Yes, the Terps are in Leonard’s top three. But at this point Maryland looks to be a distant third behind Clemson and FSU. Leonard’s teammate, OG Justin Falcinelli (who was considered to be a Terps lean) abruptly committed to Clemson earlier this month; and that certainly bodes well for the Tigers. Leonard has stated that Maryland’s close proximity is a plus for the Terps, but with Clemson and FSU’s recent success with putting defensive linemen in the NFL, Leonard will undoubtedly join the ACC just as the Terps depart for the Big Ten.
Melvin Keihn (LB, Gilman): Keihn’s top three schools are all local: Maryland, Virginia and Virginia Tech. There’s no doubt that Keihn wants to stay close to home where his guardian (Gilman HC Biff Poggi) can keep a close eye on him. It looks as if the top two are Maryland and Virginia. Academics will play a major role in Keihn’s decision, which suggests the Cavaliers have the upper hand. But what also helps Virginia’s case is former teammate and close friend Darius Jennings, who has been pushing for Keihn to join him in Charlottesville. Keihn really likes the Terps coaching staff and has been on campus several times, but it appears Virginia has a slight edge.
Elliot Davis (ATH, Quince Orchard): The coaching staff was a tad late to the party, but with a recent Terps offer, Davis has Maryland in his top three. After holding offers from mostly D-1 AA schools, Davis had an excellent spring and summer, resulting in offers from Clemson, Rutgers and Maryland. Davis was in College Park recently and came very close to committing while on campus. Davis decided to wait, and his patience will likely result in more offers. But Davis has hinted that his future destination will be chosen before his HS season, and the Terps like where they stand.