One man's opinion on the potential of Maryland's 2008 football commitments. Post your takes below.
Most wanted: Given to the most heavily recruited Maryland commitments.
OFFENSE
Kenny Tate -- DeMatha, wide receiver
Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, Virginia and Virginia Tech. According to Rivals.com, each of those schools offered Tate a scholarship. The 6-foot-4, 215-pounder selected Maryland over Illinois last week. Here's what CSTV.com football recruiting analyst Tom Lemming had to say about Tate in a recent edition of 'Five questions.'
"He is a big-time player. He plays on a run-oriented team in HS, but he proved himself as a big, physical sure-handed receiver. He is an outstanding downfield blocker. In the year of the great wide receiver, he's one of the best."
DEFENSE
Masengo Kabongo -- Fairfield (Conn.) Prep, defensive tackle
According to Rivals.com, Kabongo sported offers from Colorado, Illinois, NC State, Syracuse and UConn before committing to Maryland in August. In a December interview, Fairfield Prep head coach Rich Magdon reeled off a host of other schools still recruiting Kabongo -- Boston College, Florida, Illinois, Miami, Oregon, Penn State, Purdue and Virginia. The four-star prospect was obviously a wanted man.
Most likely to contribute early: Given to the recruits most likely to see the field as true freshmen
OFFENSE
Devonte Campbell -- Hargrave Military Academy (Va.), tight end
Campbell was one of Maryland's prize recruits in the class of 2007, but academics forced the Forestville grad to attend prep school at Hargrave before enrolling at College Park. Since last year's Signing Day, Campbell has added 10 pounds of muscle and spent all fall competing against top prep school competition. Campbell is already enrolled at UM, and the graduations of Joey Haynos and Jason Goode open the door for other tight ends to contribute. If nothing else, Campbell should get an opportunity to play special teams.
DEFENSE
Demetrius Hartsfield -- Southeast Raleigh (N.C.) Magnet High School, linebacker
Like Campbell, Hartsfield is already enrolled at College Park. Early enrollment should give him a leg up on his classmates in learning the defense and figuring out what it takes to balance football with school. He'll also have a semester under his belt in Dwight Galt's strength and conditioning program. That early start could equal some special teams play for Hartsfield immediately.
Most likely to be a multi-year starter: Self-explanatory -- these recruits have all-conference potential.
OFFENSE
Kevin Dorsey -- Forestville Military Academy, wide receiver
Along with Tate and Campbell, Dorsey seems like an obvious guy to see early playing time for the Terps. Dorsey, who is already enrolled at College Park, caught 50 passes for 902 yards and 11 touchdowns during his senior season. According to Forestville head coach Charles Harley, "nobody trains harder than him." That work ethic, coupled with his 4.4 speed, should make Dorsey a fixture in future Maryland starting lineups.
DEFENSE
Cameron Chism -- Bishop McNamara, cornerback
Chism might be the most versatile, athletic player in Maryland's class. As a cornerback, Chism registered 81 tackles, five interceptions and returned one fumble recovery for a touchdown during his senior year. At wide receiver, Chism caught 41 passes for 750 yards and four touchdowns. He also rushed for 157 yards and one touchdown on 10 carries. Bishop McNamara head coach Bryce Bevill said Chism compares favorably to former Terps standout and current Seattle Seahawk Josh Wilson.
Most likely to overachieve: Given to the overlooked recruits that exceeded expectations during the high school season.
OFFENSE
Davin Meggett -- Surrattsville, running back
Meggett, the son of former New York Giants star Dave Meggett, sported offers from James Madison, Delaware, Old Dominion and a host of other DIAA schools heading into his senior season. Right before the start of the Terps' season, Maryland became the first DI school to offer the 5-foot-9, 210-pounder a scholarship. Meggett accepted and went on to rush for 1,784 yards and 27 touchdowns on 169 carries and haul in nine passes for 410 yards and six touchdowns. Surrattsville clinched its first playoff berth in school history.
DEFENSE
Eteyen Edet -- Fort Washington Friendly, linebacker
Edet, a two-star prospect per Rivals.com, was more concerned with finding a place to live and school to attend last summer than going to summer football camps, making highlight film and advertising himself to college recruiters. Born and raised in Staten Island, N.Y., Edet left his hometown for Fork Union (Va.) Military Academy as a junior. After realizing he couldn't afford tuition for a senior year at Fork Union, his aunt in Fort Washington opened her doors, allowing Edet to suit up for Friendly and contribute 110 tackles, 5.5 sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries as a senior. Had Edet gone through the camp circuits and sent out his tape, he would've likely been a more highly-rated recruit.
Most underrated: Given to the recruits with the best chance at making their recruiting rankings look silly four years from now.
OFFENSE
Gary Douglas -- Durham (N.C.) Hillside, running back
Douglas, a two-star prospect and the No. 120 running back in the country according to Scout.com, put up mind-boggling numbers for Hillside (11-3). The 6-foot, 185-pounder rushed for 2,100 yards and 22 touchdowns on 235 carries, and caught 10 passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns. Douglas' 4.5 speed and experience with different blocking schemes (Hillside employed a zone scheme) should serve him well in College Park.
DEFENSE
Zach Kerr -- Quince Orchard, defensive tackle
Kerr's a two-star prospect per Scout.com, but that ranking could have more to do with his academic status than anything else. Here's what Quince Orchard head coach Dave Mencarini had to say about Kerr's potential.
"He is a player with unlimited potential. He's a kid that could easily be a first-round NFL draft pick and I'm not just blowing smoke. But he's also a kid that has a lot of work to do to get to that point. Getting him through those tough parts that lie ahead is what's going to be the challenge."
The rest of the class
OFFENSE
Tyler Bass -- Stockbridge (Ga.), quarterback
A dual-threat quarterback from suburban Atlanta, Bass committed to the Terps in January. According to Stockbridge head coach Steve Collins, Memphis and Western Kentucky wanted Bass to come in and start as a true freshman. Louisville was also in contention for Bass' services.
Kerry Boykins -- Chesapeake (Va.) Oscar Smith, wide receiver
Boykins, a four-star prospect according to Rivals.com, caught 43 passes for 705 yards and nine touchdowns despite missing four games due to a knee injury during his senior season. Here's what Bryan Black of The Virginian-Pilot had to say about Boykins in a January edition of 'Five questions'.
"In terms of sheer talent, he's probably one of the top receivers ever to come out of Hampton Roads. ... I think he's a great pickup for Maryland. I would expect him to have an outstanding career. If he's healthy, I think it's possible he could play as a true freshman. He certainly has the talent."
R.J. Dill -- Trinity (Pa.), offensive tackle
Dill, 6 feet 7, 280 pounds, chose Maryland over UConn, Temple, Duke and Akron. Trinity backs combined for 3,244 yards rushing and 37 touchdowns, mostly running behind Dill, the right tackle. While the team's Wing-T offense didn't allow for many pass-blocking opportunities, Trinity head coach Jeff Boger said Dill has the potential to develop that skill set.
Matt Furstenburg -- The Hun School (N.J.), tight end
Furstenburg graduated from Hunterdon Central High School in Flemington, N.J. in 2007 without any DI football scholarship offers. Instead of taking a DIAA offer or playing lacrosse in college, Furstenburg decided to do a post-graduate year at The Hun School. Before he even played a down, Maryland offered a scholarship in August, and Furstenburg (now a four-star prospect per Scout.com) promptly committed.
Justin Gilbert -- Richmond (Va.) Monacan, offensive tackle
Gilbert picked Maryland over a grayshirt offer from Virginia Tech. The 6-foot-6, 285-pounder is still getting used to his size, according to Monacan head coach Danny Parsons. Gilbert was 6 feet 2, 215 pounds as a sophomore.
"He's never been a big overweight guy or anything like that," said Parsons in a December interview. "You look at him and you can tell he'll be able to, with [Maryland's] weight program, that he'll be able to put on an easy 20-25 pounds."
Justin Lewis -- Johnsonville (S.C.), offensive guard
Lewis, a two-star player according to Scout.com, committed to Maryland over N.C. State in late August. According to Johnsonville head coach Lewis Lineberger, Clemson and South Carolina showed interest in Lewis during the season, but the 6-foot-4, 315-pounder was sold on Maryland.
DEFENSE
Cody Blue -- Wilde Lake, defensive tackle
Blue recorded 38 tackles and four sacks during Wilde Lake's 10-3 season, which included a 3A semifinal appearance. Wilde Lake coach Doug DuVall said Blue's size and lateral speed are his biggest strengths.
"He's one of those kids that by the time he's a senior, he could be an all-ACC player because he's big and he can run and he's athletic."
A.J. Francis -- Gonzaga (D.C.), defensive tackle
Francis contributed 20 solo tackles, nine assists and two sacks during Gonzaga's 4-5 season. The 6-foot-5, 320-pounder committed to the Terps last January following a standout performance at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl Combine for juniors. Francis reportedly also sported offers from Wake Forest and Georgia Tech.
