Testudo Times, a Maryland Terrapins community

The Scarlet Knights now lead solidly for wide receiver Brandon Coleman over Syracuse and Maryland. "It’s just a comfort level I have with Rutgers," Coleman said. "I like everything about them."

It was not a good year for the Terrapins, who were able to notch only two wins. While their season didn't help to build any momentum on the recruiting trail, Maryland has landed some good prospects including the recently-added Javarie Johnson (Washington D.C. / Dunbar) who decommitted from Miami to join the Terps class. Johnson is an athletic prospect who could offer Maryland some options in how they use him on defense and should be able to contribute quickly as a pass-rusher. A strength of this class is the defensive line because they have several good prospects committed, in addition to Johnson, including Andre Monroe (Washington D.C. / Saint Johns College) -- an undersized, but quick and active defensive tackle.

Top prospect: A huge get for Maryland was quarterback Tyler Smith (Easton, Pa. / Wilson Area), who is the No. 8 ranked quarterback. He has a good frame which he needs to keep developing as well as a rocket arm and deceptively good athleticism. His delivery is compact and very quick. Plus, he is also is a good ballhandler. Smith has a lot of ability and upside and could become the face of this offense over the next few seasons.

Don't be surprised if: Smith contends for the starting quarterback position this fall. The Terrapins have several young quarterbacks on the roster, but Smith will arguably be the most talented and could push the rest of the pack.

Me and my friend, Tony Grimes, were planning on going to school together. I think he stopped favoring Michigan a little bit. He went up there and got into some cold weather a little bit. … [So] he’s still weighing things out a little bit. He’s still waiting until Signing Day [to commit]. At this point, if [he wants to come to Maryland], I’m all for it. But I will just be happy wherever he goes. As long as we both go to school, we’ll see each other again, hopefully at the next level and later in life.

Defensive end David Mackall checks in at No. 5 and has been looking around at Michigan, Rutgers and other schools, but he continues to be committed to Maryland. The 6-3, 240-pounder was all over the field for Fork Union.

"[Christchurch TE/OT Josh Lovell has] decided to go to Maryland but they just want to see before he makes his official verbal commitment that he’s all set," Homer said of Lovell, a 6-foot-5-and-a-half, 270-pound senior who could play on the line as well.

"He’s committed to Maryland, but he just hasn’t made an announcement. He’s probably going to make the official verbal commitment to Maryland at the end of our first grading period, October 31st.

At one time, [Dontae] Johnson had a long list of schools he was considering, but at this point, with his senior season opening in eight days on September 11th against Lower Merion (PA), Johnson looks to have narrowed things down.

"NC State, Stanford and Maryland," Johnson stated to NBE when asked what schools he was currently considering.

Sean Fitzpatrick committed to Maryland back in February and the Terrapin staff has been excited to get him on campus in 2010.

Now instead of coaching Fitzpatrick, they’ll be coaching against him. The 6-foot-6, 220-pound tight end from Pittsford (N.Y.) Mendon is no longer bound for College Park. Instead, he’s heading to Chapel Hill after switching over to the Tar Heels.

"I committed to North Carolina tonight," Fitzpatrick confirmed late Thursday evening in an interview with Rivals.com. "I’ve kind of had it in my mind that UNC is the right place for me for about two weeks or so. I talked with my coach and my family about it and I prayed about it a lot. It was a tough decision so I factored all that in.

"I plan to take all of them but I don’t know what’s going to happen in the middle of the season, but I know that I’m taking an official to Michigan Sept. 12," he said. "I called [Maryland tight ends] coach [Charles] Bankins to set up an official, hopefully Sept. 26, but it’s still in the air. I know I want to take an official to Maryland. I don’t know about the other ones yet."
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Offensive coordinator James "Franklin says, you know, he just wants me there, whether I play offense or defense," Furman said. "They think I can play any position but it’s up to my decision, but the defensive coach is amazing. If I was to go to Maryland I would play safety."