4.23.14 Recruiting Updates: New Maryland commit?

Sep 14, 2013; East Hartford, CT, USA; Maryland Terrapins head coach Randy Edsall during the second half of a game against the Connecticut Huskies at Rentschler Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports

With the spring evaluation period beginning soon, I spoke with a couple of Terp targets to see what their plans are, who will be visiting them, and what their commitment schedule looks like. It appears that Marylad will pick up a new commitment in just over a month, barring any surprises.

• Quarvez Boulware:  2015 offensive lineman Quarvez Boulware picked up an offer from Clemson yesterday and will visit over summer. For a long time, Boulware had a top three of Florida State, Maryland and Alabama. Now? “Auburn, Wake Forest, Maryland, North Carolina and Penn State.” Boulware said that each school feels like home and he will look at each school individually at some point. The school I was most surprised about was Penn State. Boulware said he recently attended a practice in Happy Valley and said that “the coaching staff and environment was phenomenal.” Boulware added that current Nittany Lion commit Adam McLean has been in his ear about Penn State, but has not pushed too hard. This is concerning to me, as Penn State has made up a lot of ground with a number of Maryland targets. Nonetheless, Maryland is, to me, in the best position with him. He is targeting a fall commitment during his senior season.
• Rashad Blunt: Three-star wide receiver Rashad Blunt said he is unaware of the specific schools coming to see him during the evaluation period, but that he will visit Miami on June 1^st for their camp and will also tour Clemson with his dad for an organization he participates in with his father. He will also take trips to Auburn, Cincinnati, Kentucky, Georgia, Georgia Tech and Louisville this summer. Maryland, however, appears to be in great shape. Wide receiver coach Keenan McCardell spoke to Blunt on Easter and that they have been in constant communication with him since the spring game. McCardell has told Blunt he is close to an offer from Maryland, so he needs to continue to excel on and off the field. Blunt will visit Maryland in the spring. Blunt currently has no favorites right now, but after the spring he will have a good idea who stands at the top of his list. If not by the end of spring, Blunt will have a top three or five by the fall of his senior year. When asked if any teams he knows will make the cut, Blunt said “Miami and Texas.”
• Deltron Sands: 2015 running back Deltron Sands has certainly been vocal about his imminent commitment to Maryland. Sands said he will officially commit to Maryland on May 24^th, two days after his spring game. Syracuse, Miami, Florida Atlantic, Florida International, and Florida are all recruiting him very hard and the Florida schools are trying to pressure him to staying in Florida, but Sands “wants to leave Florida.” Sands credited “good chemistry with the coaches, we talk everyday and they’re showing they’re very interested, and I good chance to start as a freshman.” Sands confirmed that the move to the Big Ten solidified his decision with Maryland. Sands will certainly bring another dynamic to the offense and will become Maryland’s second commitment for the 2015 class barring any surprises.
• Jake Pickard: 2015 tight end/defensive tackle Jake Pickard told me that Penn State, Boston College and Miami are all coming to see him during the spring evaluation period. Miami has started recruiting him within the past two weeks, but Penn State is recruiting him very hard. Maryland inside linebacker coach Keith Dudzinski will make a trip to New Jersey to see Pickard, however. I do believe that Pickard likes Maryland a lot, and believe they’re a virtual lock to be there until the end of his recruitment. With his family ties to Purdue, however, I still believe they’re the team to beat. Pickard speaks with the Purdue staff “once every two or three days” and will visit over the summer when he goes to see nearby family. Pickard also stated that “prestige, education, and connection between school and the business world” are all big factors in his recruitment. The versatile junior also did not have a preference whether he is recruited as a tight end or defensive tackle, which he only began playing this year. Pickard does not have a timetable for when he wants to officially trim his list or make his commitment.
• Isaiah Prince: Five-star offensive lineman Isaiah Prince confirmed that right now, Maryland and Florida are at the top, “but anything can change.” Prince likes Florida for their great tradition, great program, great coaches and big campus. Prince did state that Maryland can and will compete for Big Ten championships and loves the coaching staff. “Coach Edsall has graduated 79 of his 80 players, so that really stands out to me.” What is concerning, however, is that Prince said Michigan, Nebraska, and Miami will all visit him during the evaluation period. Nebraska, by the way, offered Prince yesterday. Prince will also make a visit to Auburn in June, though the exact date has not been specified. Prince does not have a timetable for trimming his list or making a commitment, but did say he is “looking to hear back from Alabama and Florida State. But what happens if they offer? “They’ll shoot up to the top of my list,” joining Florida and Maryland.
• Nick Johns: Johns told me that the Penn State staff will watch him throw, though the date has not been set yet. This is something to keep an eye out for. If Penn State does not offer, I believe he is Maryland-bound. But with a Penn State offer, Maryland will likely be in his top three with Penn State and Virginia. I’ve seen a lot of talk about disappointment with the staff’s inability to lock up Kai Locksley, but I’d take Johns over Locksley, I believe that Johns can be an extremely talented quarterback under Mike Locksley and can lead a lethal offense for years to come. But they’ll have a lot of work to do, especially if Penn State does extend that offer. He visited Penn State for their spring game and will certainly visited again, but did travel to College Park last Friday and spent the entire day touring the campus with Mike Locksley and Edsall. Johns’ recruitment is far from over.
• Adam McLean: Arguably Maryland’s biggest defensive target, McLean committed to Penn State last week and has already begun recruiting kids from the area to Penn State. He has done a great job and I believe has done a lot in terms of making some guys, including Trevon Diggs and Boulware, more receptive to Penn State. This is something to keep an eye on going forward, but this could impact Maryland’s recruiting going forward.