If National Signing Day previews college football teams futures, then the Big 10-headed Maryland Terrapins are in big trouble for the foreseeable future. None of the nation’s top recruits opted for College Park Feb. 6.
The Terps only five-star recruit, junior college transfer Deon Long, signed last summer. He caught 100 passes for 25 touchdowns and 1,626 yards in 2012.
By way of comparison, Ohio State has the second best 2013 recruiting class, according to Rivals.com. The Buckeyes signed a pair of five-star and 16 four-star players so far. New conference rival Michigan is listed No.6 with a five-star and 16 four-starts. Maryland will compete against these teams in 2014.
The Terps final Atlantic Coast Conference season is later this year. Rival Florida State signed two four-star and eight four-star athletes this season. Clemson scored nine four-star recruits and Virginia Tech rounds out the top 19 with a five-star and four fours.
In addition to Long, Maryland’s recruiting class includes four four-star players who could make an immediate impact. For instance, linebacker Yannick Ngakoue appears on some top 100 lists. He had 60 tackles and 18 sacks as a senior the Friendship Collegiate last year.
Tackle Derwin Gray and tight end Andrew Isaacs are both rated ninth in their positions by Rivals.com. Cornerback Will Likely is the final top recruit from Florida.
Dual-threat quarterback Shane Cockerille also selected Maryland last year. ESPN lists him as a four-star prospect.
Suitland High’s Taivon Jacobs switched from Ohio State to Maryland Feb. 6. ESPN lists him as a four-star recruit; Rvials has Jacobs at three stars. Reports are Jacobs wants to stay close to his one-year-old daughter.
The Buckeyes receiving class includes eight wide receivers including top prospects high school senior James Clark and juco transfer Corey Smith in an already crowded returning corps.
After signing Jacobs, Maryland moved up to No. 30 on Rivals 2013 team rankings.
By the way, former Maryland coach-in-waiting James Franklin has the 19th-ranked recruiting team at Vanderbilt and has been to back-to-back bowl games.
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