Todd Carton breaks down the news.
Bullis High School quarterback Dwayne Haskins, Jr. capped off one of the great weeks in recent Maryland recruiting Friday afternoon at approximately 3:10 when he announced his commitment to the University of Maryland on a Spreecast streamed live by ESPN. The week started with the commitment of Duke transfer Rasheed Sulaimon that sparked talk of Maryland garnering a number one preseason ranking in the fall.
For several months, people who follow football recruiting closely have spoken of the #DMVtoUMDMovement which is the concentrated push to keep local players especially in the class of 2016 playing for their flagship state university. The notion gained some traction earlier this year when Adam McLean de-committed from Penn State and announced his intention to enroll at Maryland. But all along, everyone sensed that the class of 2016 was the big prizeand tyhat Haskins would be the linchpin – the Pied Piper if you will – of that class.
How big a “get” is Haskins? With the addition of just this one player, Maryland’s 2016 recruiting class jumped five spots according to 24/7 sports and is now the 25th best class in the country.
Today, the 6’3″ 203 pound rising senior confirmed what many had suspected all week and sent tremors of ecstasy through Terps fans when he announced his commitment. ESPN rates Haskins as the number 25 player overall in the class of 2016, considers him the fifth best quarterback in the nation, and the second best player in the state of Maryland behind Penn State commit, defensive end Shane Simmons.
But Haskins, who is Maryland’s eighth commit for 2016, brings with him not merely the great measurables at his position indicated by ESPN’s assessment. In his announcement he noted that he and Trevon Diggs, younger brother of Stefon, are “a package deal.” Diggs is listed as the 114th best player in the class by ESPN. Offensive guard Terrance Davis and wide receiver Tino Ellis are among the other high school stars on a long list that Haskins rattled off in his announcement as players he would actively recruit who could join him and make the class of 2016 by far the best of the Randy Edsall era and possibly among the best in Maryland history.
Terps fans pay attention. More announcements are likely forthcoming.
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