Maryland football recruiting: 2025 early signing period primer + live updates
- Ahmed Ghafir
- Dec 4, 2024
- 5 min read
Day one of the early signing period in the 2025 cycle has officially arrived as Mike Locksley inks arguably his deepest class as the program’s head coach. Breaking down everything you need to know (live updates at the bottom of the article):
Where Maryland’s recruiting stands entering Wednesday:
ESPN: 21st
247: 23rd
Rivals: 29th
On3: 34th
How we got here
Penn. DL Braheem Battles became the first pledge of the cycle who ultimately signed with the program before Virginia LB CJ Smith pulled the trigger on an early decision, opting to suit up at the same university his sister attends. But the Terps laid their groundwork during official visit season back in June where wideout Justin DeVaughn became the first public commit, though Spalding DB Jayden Shipps would announce weeks later alongside QB Malik Washington.
Maryland’s second official visit weekend proved to lay the foundation for the class as DeMatha RB Bud Coombs, Calvert Hall TE JT Taggart, DL Dante Recker, OT Ben Beymer, OT Lamar Williams and Riverdale Baptist DL Nahsir Taylor all shut down their recruitments following their trips to College Park.
The third weekend produced a pair of commitments in the trenches as IOL Amory Hills announced in late June with Penn State and Virginia Tech in his top group, while DL Bryce Jenkins went public in early July by committing to Maryland over Tennessee and South Carolina.
The final weekend helped the Terps add its star-power to the class with QB Malik Washington shifting to recruiter as Shipps and RB Iverson Howard returned to campus, while the final visit for Virginia four-star duo Jaylen Gilchrist and Messiah Delhomme proved to be the difference in the end. Maryland was also able to close on Delmar White quickly after sitting on Brian Williams' radar, while Sidney Stewart pulled the trigger on the long-time itch to stay close to home. Maryland beat out Georgia Tech for Florida defender Travares Daniels, who projects as an inside linebacker for Maryland.
The Hamond twins became the last commits heading into NSD, committing to Maryland four months after taking their official visit with the Terps entrenched as their leader throughout.
Maryland saw a pair of prospects – Jett White and Khalil Stewart – part ways with the staff. In-state prospect Julien Horton reconsidered Maryland after flipping to North Carolina, while Florida DL Donta Simpson flipped to Miami (FL) after the ‘Canes extended an offer to the in-state target. Still, the staff has been able to hang onto its class amid its four-win season.
The out-of-state commits like Lamar Williams, Ben Beymer and Travares Daniels all made their way to campus for the USC game while the rest of the local commits remained familiar faces in SECU Stadium through the 2024 home slate. While they were recruited plenty hard
Could Maryland add to its class?
After initially deciding on a late summer decision, commitment time has arrived for two targets Maryland is in the mix for: Armwood (FL) four-star LB Kellen Wiley and Hillsborough (FL) ATH Moses White.
Wiley took an official visit to Maryland the weekend of June 13 and returned to campus for as a guest alongside Moses White, his cousin, for his official visit the weekend of the Rutgers game. Assistant Kevin Sumlin has led the way with the Tampa duo with the longevity of Maryland’s pursuit hard to ignore, but Wiley’s decision to hold off on a summer commitment toughened the field. While several blue bloods jumped into the picture, Texas has generated buzz down the stretch after hosting him for a Nov. official visit, while Florida’s in-state recruiting surge can’t be ignored after hosting him for an unofficial visit. Miami (FL) has remained a consistent contender despite the fact that his late November official visit did not materialize.
Wiley is expected to announce his decision during a school ceremony at 10 AM with White set to announce at 2 PM.
What to expect next
With high school recruiting likely complete this cycle, the attention will shift completely toward the transfer portal as Maryland could become arguably the most active its been in the Mike Locksley era. Notes on those portal needs heading into the official start on Monday, Dec. 9 can be found here.
Live updates
2:27 PM: Salem (VA) four-star Jaylen Gilchrist was announced by the program, likely ending the Terps' early signing period.
11:55 AM: Maryland is awaiting one final signature to wrap up the early signing period with Salem (VA) blue-chip tackle Jaylen Gilchrist unsigned heading into the afternoon. DL Braheem Battles, SAF Alijah Hamond and OL Asaiah Allan-Hamond are not expected to sign during the early signing period, sources tell IBG.
8:56 AM: QB Jackson Hamilton, son of longtime NFL assistant Pep Hamilton, becomes the second quarterback to sign in the 2025 class. Hamilton became the first at his position to join the class after taking his official visit beginning June 13
8:25 AM: RB Iverson Howard signs after igniting the Terps' hometown push in the 2025 cycle. Howard committed to Maryland with Michigan and Florida State in his top group.
8:10 AM: WR Justin DeVaughn, IOL Amory Hills make their pledges official. Former coordinator Josh Gattis picked up efforts to give the Terps' juice with DeVaughn, while Hills has potential as a center in college after shining at the position while at Milford Mill
8:00 AM: In-state athlete Zymear Smith makes his pledge official after flipping from Alabama to Maryland back in mid-July. Smith, signed as an athlete, is expected to line up as a wide receiver
7:42 AM: Friendship Collegiate DL Bryce Jenkins makes his pledge official. Jenkins, who drew looks along the OL as well, committed to Maryland over Tennessee and South Carolina back in early July as assistant Aazaar Abdul-Rahim pulled in the blue-chip run stopper from the program he once started.
7:36 AM: Spalding DL Delar White makes his pledge official. The wrestling star entrenched himself on the radar of Brian Williams through his junior year, and after working out for the staff last June, he took his official visit days later before committing.
7:29 AM: DL Dante Recker, DL Nahsir Taylor, OT Lamar Williams all make their pledge official. The trio made their way to campus for their official visit during the second weekend in June, opting to shut down their recruitments coming out of the trip.
7:27 AM: Maury ILB CJ Smith becomes the ninth signee in Maryland's 2025 class. Smith will head to the same school his sister attends after becoming the third pledge in the class back in the early spring with assistant Lance Thompson leading the way.
7:14 AM: St. Thomas Aquinas ILB Travares Daniels makes his pledge official as he heads to campus in January. A former Indiana pledge, Daniels committed to Maryland over Georgia Tech with assistants Brian Williams and Lance Thompson leading the way.
7:13 AM: Concordia Prep OLB Sidney Stewart, Lakeland OT Ben Beymer & Warwick SAF Messiah Delhomme, both early enrollees, put pen to paper.
7:12 AM: Calvert Hall TE JT Taggart, son of Ravens RB coach Willie Taggart, makes his pledge official.
7:11 AM: Spalding QB Malik Washington, who arrives in January as the future face of the program, makes his pledge official.
7:10 AM: Spalding DB Jayden Shipps makes his pledge official. Shipps silently committed to Maryland in late May before going public with teammate, QB Malik Washington, in late June
7:08 AM: DeMatha RB Bud Coombs becomes the first pledge to sign in Maryland's class. Bud will head to Maryland in June as a two-sport athlete in football and baseball.
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