Terps Football Hosting Big Show Event: Your Guide

Nov 23, 2013; College Park, MD, USA; Maryland Terrapins head coach Randy Edsall on the sidelines during the first half against the Boston College Eagles at Byrd Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

The Maryland Terrapins are finally getting in on the giant recruiting events that are so prevalent at other big-time state school football programs. Alabama plays host to a massive one every year that draws in some of the biggest and brightest stars in each recruiting class; Urban Meyer brought the same event he used to host at Florida with him to Ohio State; Penn State and Michigan have been doing them for years. It’s a chance to woo recruits and show them your vision for the program and a tour of the campus with a lot of big names tagging along.

Now it’s Maryland’s turn to attempt luring recruits as Edsall plays host to what the Terps are calling “The Big Show.” With a top 25 class and 15 commitments already, the Terrapins are hoping to ride that momentum into more good fortune by hosting some of the best players from ’15, ’16, and ’17 on campus.

Who’s Going To Be There?

While Maryland may not be hosting an event on the sheer scale that some of the aforementioned schools do, there will still be, by Maryland’s standards, plenty of talent in attendance for a school that won seven games last year.

The biggest of which happens to be Isaiah Prince, the 6’7″, 280 lb offensive tackle (no relation to Maryland’s other five-star O-lineman Damian Prince) ranked as a consensus top-10 offensive lineman in the country. Prince has suitors lining up from everywhere around the country, including Alabama, Florida, Ohio State, and Auburn among others, and Maryland feels like the outcast here.

But just because Maryland isn’t the most notable name doesn’t mean the  Eleanor Roosevelt local has forgotten about the Terps. Au contraire, he lists the school at the top of his list.

Other primary local targets include dual-threat QB Kai Locksley, the four-star son of offensive coordinator Mike Locksley and Gilman signal caller, and Quarvez Boulware, the 6’2″ OG from Friendship Academy in Washington, D.C.

But there’s a huge contingency from Florida that should be in attendance. Tampa running back Ray-Ray McCloud is a guy Maryland has been going after big time, and he’ll be joining other Florida products like five-stars Byron Cowart, a defensive end from Seffner, and wide receiver George Campbell from Tarpon Springs. Wide receiver Ryan Davis from St. Petersburg is also taking his first unofficial visit to Maryland.

That says nothing about the underclassmen in attendance, as Stefon Diggs younger brother and Wootton wide receiver Trevon Diggs will be around, linebacker Rashaun Smith and top tight end Naseir Upshur are all expected to be on campus (among others). Each of those kids are impact players and highly sought after recruits, and while commitments aren’t necessarily expected, an event like this should make a deep impact on them.

Should We Expect Any Commitments?

It’s always hard to say with recruiting, but there’s a very good chance Maryland lands some big time recruits this weekend. The atmosphere on campus is going to be electric, and these type of events usually have very good results in terms of commitments.

Isaiah Prince just finished visiting his other big-time suitor in Ohio State, and he could be trying to seal the deal at Maryland depending on how impressive the visit goes. In talking with him, you get the sense that he has an idea of what to expect from every school and kind of wants to make a decision.

It’s hard to envision Kai Locksley going anywhere other than Maryland, and an event like this could bond father and son together enough to get him on board with the program.

For other guys like DJ Moore, the ATH out of Pennsylvania, this will be his third visit to campus and it seems like he’s really enjoying Maryland. The addition of Keenan McCardell has clearly paid dividends on the recruiting trail, so it wouldn’t be too crazy to see him commit on the spot.

Ray-Ray McCloud has been rumored to be favoring the Terps, but I can’t see him committing to College Park without at least talking it over with family first.

Regardless, Maryland should be expecting a couple commitments after today’s events. If Edsall decides to Dougie once or twice, expect many more.

Update 1: Our very own Ahmed Ghafir updated the list of 2015 recruits that will be in attendance for you, and we’ll add more as the day progresses:

2015 Eleanor Roosevelt OT Isaiah Prince

2015 Gilman (MD) ATH Kai Locksley

2015 Imhotep Institute (PA) WR DJ Moore

2015 Atlantic Coast (FL) WR David Gardner

2016 Imhotep Institute (PA) ATH Terrill Gillettee

2015 Friendship Collegiate Academy (DC) OT Quarvez Boulware

2015 Sickles (FL) RB Ray Ray McCloud

2015 Wharton WR Auden Tate

2015 East Lake WR George Campbell

2015 Lakewood (FL)WR Ryan Davis

2015 Paul VI (NJ) WR Irvin Charles