Maryland pledge says official visit "was everything I imagined it would be and then some"

Maryland verbal and Bel Air (MD) three-star safety Julien Horton has watched his stock rise in the spring after picking up an offer from North Carolina then Michigan, but this weekend’s official visit to College Park couldn’t have gone better for the local pledge.

“It was everything I imagined it would be and then some. It was amazing,” Horton told IBG. “I felt good. I felt like I definitely see myself there more than I did before. It felt so much like a family and that’s really what I’m looking for. I’ve been up there a lot but being around the coaches for two, three days, it was just great. I can definitely see myself there.”

Veteran cornerback Chantz Harley filled in as Horton’s host this weekend as a large group of players were able to spend time with the newest batch of visitors, but giving Horton insight into the ins and outs of the program left him comfortable from beginning to end. “I wouldn’t say I had questions but I got to see a day in the life of a Maryland football player. They gave us a player host and my guy was Chantz [Harley], he was great. He gave me a good feel for what it’s like to be part of the team. Coach Aazaar made a presentation for me where he showed all my game film and shows how it translates to some of the safeties they have on their roster right now, so it was good seeing that.”

Head coach Mike Locksley also made it clear that Horton was a priority for Maryland this cycle. “I’ve met with coach [Mike] Locksley a couple of times now and every time I have a meeting with him, it’s always a great talk and fun environment. Me and him had some conversations too so I was excited.”

While Horton added, “I’m focusing on Maryland now. Maryland is home,” it still won’t be his last visit.

Horton plans to follow through on his official visit to North Carolina next weekend as the Tar Heel staff has made him a steady safety target through the spring. With the dead period looming shortly after that official visit, Horton doesn’t have any plans to visit other schools — and isn’t sure he’ll do so ahead of his senior season.

“Everything has been going good with them. I still talk with the Michigan staff daily but we haven’t made any plans or anything to get back there.”

Did Maryland address Horton’s outside interest during his official visit?

“They were just focused on their visit and what they bring to the table.”

Julien Horton is rated a three-star prospect and an 87 overall by On3, checking in as the state’s 30th-best prospect.

Maryland pledge says official visit “was everything I imagined it would be and then some”

Ahmed Ghafir